Manila, Philippines – Microsoft today announced the appointment of Andrés Ortolá as the new Managing Director of Microsoft Portugal. The manager replaces Paula Panarra from January 1, 2022, with the responsible to assume the position of Global Sales Director of Business Applications in the Retail and Consumer Goods segment.
In the new position, Andrés Ortolá will lead Microsoft in Portugal, at a time when the organization already has more than 1,400 professionals in the country. Andrés Ortolá will be focused on supporting the business segment, the public sector and partners, its Digital Transformation processes, as well as establishing new alliances and collaborations that help boost the areas of Innovation and Sustainability, but also increase confidence in Digital.
Microsoft Portugal has an ecosystem composed of more than 3,700 partners, offering Microsoft technology-based solutions to large companies, SMEs, Public Administration, professionals and home users.
The new Director General of Microsoft in Portugal has about two decades of experience in the Information Technology industry in various areas, including consulting, sales and marketing. He previously served as Managing Director of the Philippines and joined Microsoft in 2000, performing as Consultant, Regional Technology Leader and Regional Business Manager for Global Accounts. In the curriculum he also has experiences in Dubai, quest software, having led the operation of technology in the Middle East, followed by a stint at IBM, where he held positions as Director of Sales for Software and Marketing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
Andrés Ortolá returned to Microsoft in 2014, where he embraced challenges in the area of Corporate Clients while Field Enablement Director, Sales Excellence & Strategy Director for Asia and led the Business Segment in Singapore.
He is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his free time is spent with family and friends, being passionate about sports, rugby in particular.
In the words of Andrés Ortolá: “I am very excited to join the Portuguese team and continue the excellent work that has been developed so far. We have a great opportunity ahead of us, only matched by the expectations of our customers and partners. I look forward to the start of the new cycle, getting to know the teams and helping our ecosystem transform.”
Paula Panarra, Global Director of Retail Business Applications Sales
Paula Panarra has been appointed new global sales director of Business Applications for the Retail and Consumer Goods segment, being responsible for the development of the Dynamics 365 and Power Platform business in this sector worldwide.
The manager is in this position after five years leading the Portuguese. During this period, the organization doubled the size of the business in Portugal, reinforcing market leadership; also accelerated the transformation to the Cloud; cultivated a diverse and inclusive team that welcomed 1,000 new employees and saw the birth of six new Global Employee’s Resource Groups – an informer groups of employees who develop internal initiatives in areas such as Diversity & Inclusion -; consolidated the reputation of the Microsoft brand, accumulating distinctions among which the leadership in the ranking of the strongest brands in Portugal in 2021, having been the only one to achieve the level of excellence (Source: BrandEnergy™ 2021, OnStrategy).
Under the leadership of Paula Panarra, Microsoft Portugal established strategic alliances with large companies and public entities, raised the initiatives of more than 3,700 national partners and set in motion projects with high social impact, such as Building the Future and Ativar Portugal.
Paula Panarra holds a degree in Chemical Engineering-Biotechnology from the Instituto Superior Técnico and has more than 20 years of professional experience. Throughout his career he has held various roles, adding to his resume his career at Procter & Gamble, where he spent 15 years. She joined Microsoft in 2010 as Chief Marketing Officer. After three years in technology, she became executive director of Marketing & Operations and took over in 2016, leading the public sector of clients.