Paul Rellis to be managing director of Microsoft Ireland

Microsoft Ireland has appointed Limerick man Paul Rellis as its new managing director, following the promotion of Joe Macri to a role at its western Europe headquarters.

Mr Rellis (40) is the former managing director of Microsoft's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) operations centre in Dublin and has worked for the technology giant for seven years.

He was previously finance director of Microsoft Operations in the EMEA and Asia-Pacific regions.

Mr Rellis will assume responsibility for Microsoft's business in Ireland and represent the company on all policy issues from December 3rd, with the transition period between Mr Macri's reign and his own already under way.

Mr Rellis will also take up the presidency of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland from next January.

Mr Macri (44), an Australian national who had been managing director at Microsoft Ireland since 2001, will now head Microsoft's business and marketing operations at its western Europe headquarters, which covers 12 countries including Ireland. He will continue to be based at Microsoft's site in Sandyford.

Pierre Liautaud, vice-president of western Europe for Microsoft, said he looked forward to Mr Macri "leveraging his experience for the benefit of multiple markets rather than just one".

During his time as managing director, Mr Macri grew Microsoft's business in Ireland and developed the National Productivity Centre in partnership with the Irish Management Institute (IMI).

He also represented Microsoft on the national executive of employers' body Ibec, the board of ICT Ireland and the board of the IMI. He served as chairman of the Small Business Forum in 2005 and is a board member of the Health Service Executive (HSE).