Microsoft has announced that Loai Bafaqeeh has accepted the role of public sector director for MS Saudi Arabia with the appointment effective immediately. Previously Bafaqeeh was marketing director at Microsoft Arabia.

Samir Noman, president of Microsoft Arabia, said: “I am confident that Loai will build on the strengths we have in the public sector team and will take this business to a whole new level.”

He added: “As marketing director, Loai worked with the team to solidify our STB business as our growth engine in the subsidiary, which resulted in our taking a leadership position against VMware with 53 percent market share. In addition, he successfully handled our biggest product launches such as Windows 8 and Office 365. Working with a clear and simple business rhythm, he engaged closely with the marketing team to establish critical marketing engines that serve all our segments, enabling us to compete strongly in the market place. He is leaving a solid marketing and operation team, which will continue to drive the business and contribute to our future success.”

Bafaqeeh said: “I am really excited about this new journey, an opportunity for which I owe the members of the marketing and operation team who helped me to succeed. Now, I am looking forward to working with the public sector team, which is full of talented, passionate individuals.”

Microsoft Arabia’s public sector division is strongly committed to supporting governmental bodies and is deeply involved in the Saudi e-government project with a focus on helping foster a healthy and growing partner ecosystem.