Michel Lacombe
Chairman, Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa

Michel Lacombe was named Chairman of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), on 1^st July 2000. As Chairman, he provides counsel and direction to the management team of the EMEA region, and represents Microsoft by participating in the debate around key issues for the IT Industry and Microsoft in EMEA. Prior to taking the role of Chairman, Lacombe lead Microsoft operations in EMEA as President from 1997 to July 2000. Under his leadership, the business in the region grew from $3.5bn to 6.5bn. He assumed the role of President after two years as Vice President Europe, supervising Microsoft's European field operations. Prior to this, Michel served as Vice President of the End User Customer Unit in Europe, where he was responsible for defining Microsoft's strategy for end-user and consumer-products marketing as well as managing Microsoft's distribution channels across Europe. Michel joined Microsoft in 1983 as Retail Sales Manager of the newly created French subsidiary. In January 1988, he was appointed Deputy General Manager of Sales and Marketing Operations and a year later was promoted to General Manager of Microsoft France. In July 1991, he was promoted to Regional Director of Southern Europe where he oversaw Microsoft's subsidiaries in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands and Belgium. Prior to joining Microsoft, Michel was a Sales Engineer for the electronics company Sharp and co-founder of a microcomputer distribution company.