Azar Koulibaly is a Regional Vice President and Associate General Counsel based in Singapore, where he leads Microsoft’s Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) team across Asia. He manages a team of government affairs and public policy specialists that support Microsoft’s sales and business operations in the region – from India to Australia and New Zealand to China, Korea and Japan.
His work sits at the intersection of law, technology, and geopolitics. He focuses on helping customers in both government and the private sector navigate novel legal, regulatory, and policy questions raised by technology, advising regularly on digital sovereignty, AI governance, cybersecurity, competition, privacy, and international trade.

Azar stepped into his current role in August 2026. He previously led CELA for the Europe North and Netherlands region from Amsterdam, covering more than 20 countries, where he helped shape Microsoft’s approach to a host of policy and regulatory matters in the region and strengthened the company’s relationships with European institutions, customers, and civil society stakeholders. Since joining Microsoft in 2013, he has held a range of senior legal and government affairs roles in the United States and Europe, supporting product engineering as well as consumer and commercial sales organizations.

He is a regular speaker at international conferences and policy forums, where he addresses topics such as responsible AI, digital resilience, transatlantic and transpacific technology cooperation, and the role of technology companies in supporting democratic values and economic competitiveness.

Prior to Microsoft, Azar practiced law in Seattle, focusing on mergers and acquisitions. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Northern Arizona University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.