Microsoft India Appoints Karan Bajwa As MD

Microsoft India has announced the appointment of Karan Bajwa as the new Managing Director of its sales and marketing group (SMSG) in the country. Karan, who is currently the head of the enterprise business in India, will continue to be based out of Gurgaon, and will report to Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman - Microsoft India. Karan has been with the company for over five years.

As part of this planned transition, Sanket Akerkar, the current Managing Director, is moving back to the United States to take up another assignment in the company. He has been with Microsoft Corporation since 2003, and moved to the Indian subsidiary in 2010.

Making the announcement, Bhaskar Pramanik said, “In the last two and a half years, Sanket has led the organisation to greater progress across various areas. His deep understanding of enterprises and their needs in an evolving economy, his engagement with our customers and partners, and his commitment to building talent within the company has been truly appreciated. We wish Sanket every success in his next role.”

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Welcoming Karan Bajwa to the new role, Bhaskar added, “I am very pleased that we are on the right path to growing talent within the company. Karan is a strong business leader who has always led from the front, and his successes both in Microsoft and prior to that are testimony to this. I am confident Karan’s strategic insights will help continue to grow the business in India.”

On taking up his new assignment, Karan said, “It is a very exciting time to spearhead the sales and marketing function for Microsoft in India, with limitless opportunities as the company transforms into a services and devices entity. The five years I’ve spent in the company so far have strengthened my belief that in India, especially, the potential is phenomenal. I look forward to exploring even newer arenas of growth”.

Karan starts his new tenure in July 2013 and Sanket will help with the transition until the end of July.

In an additional planned transition, Floris van Heijst, General Manager – Marketing & Operations, Microsoft India, will take up a senior appointment within Europe in July 2013. Floris joined Microsoft in 2005 and has been in India since 2010. “Floris is leaving behind a very strong and capable marketing organisation” Bhaskar said, “and we are very thankful for his contribution to the India subsidiary.”