Avanade names Rodrigo Caserta new CEO as Pamela Maynard exits
Avanade has appointed Rodrigo Caserta as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1 September 2024. Caserta, a longstanding leader within the organisation, will succeed Pamela Maynard, who is set to transition to Microsoft as the Chief AI Transformation Officer for Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) at the end of August.
Rodrigo Caserta has held multiple leadership roles at Avanade over nearly a decade. His most recent position was Global Technology Business Group Lead. His career at Avanade has been marked by significant accomplishments, particularly in driving growth and innovation across the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions.
Avanade Board Chair and Group Chief Executive of Accenture Technology, Karthik Narain, expressed confidence in Caserta's leadership. "I am excited to see Rodrigo, a longtime Avanade leader, become CEO," Narain said. "With enterprise and mid-market expertise, and a deep understanding of our clients and commitment to our people, he is the right person to lead Avanade as we expand market share. I thank Pam for her leadership, doubling our business and leading a cultural transformation focused on inclusion, diversity and wellbeing, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with her in her new role at Microsoft."
Caserta's accomplishments at Avanade include his tenure as General Manager of Brazil and President of Growth Markets, roles in which he led substantial growth in both revenue and workforce. His leadership resulted in Avanade significantly outperforming market expectations in these regions. Originally from Brazil, Caserta recently relocated from Singapore to the United States with his family.
Caserta expressed his gratitude and anticipation for his new role, stating, "It's an honour to follow in Pam's footsteps, who brought me into Avanade nearly a decade ago. The wisdom I've gained from her is invaluable, and it's a privilege to uphold her legacy as Avanade's next CEO. In an era marked by complex challenges, fierce competition, and the imperative to capitalise on AI, our clients have consistently found a trusted partner in Avanade. I am excited and look forward to this opportunity to lead, guided by our deep expertise, bold ambitions and a spirit of collaboration."
As Pamela Maynard steps down from her role as CEO of Avanade, she will begin her new position at Microsoft in September, focusing on AI transformation initiatives within MCAPS. Judson Althoff, Chief Commercial Officer at Microsoft, commented on Maynard's new role, saying, "We are excited to welcome Pamela to Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions as our first Chief AI Transformation Officer, where she will leverage Microsoft's AI portfolio to drive our internal transformation and work directly with customers to accelerate theirs. For nearly a decade, Microsoft and Avanade have been at the forefront of AI innovation, with both Pam and Rodrigo playing a critical role in advancing our progress. I look forward to this new chapter, confident in their leadership and expertise, as we further strengthen the longstanding partnership between Microsoft and Avanade and pioneer new advancements in our industry."
Reflecting on her 16 years at Avanade, including five as CEO, Maynard remarked, "After 16 remarkable years at Avanade, now is the right time to transition to new leadership and Rodrigo is the perfect choice for our next CEO. Reflecting on my five-year tenure as CEO, I am proud of what we've achieved as an organisation. We've solidified Avanade's position as the preeminent leader in the Microsoft ecosystem, consistently earning recognition from industry analysts, market leaders, and Microsoft itself. And our workplace culture, celebrated by Newsweek, Glassdoor, and more, is a clear reflection of our deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing. As AI continues to transform the industry, I am excited to have the opportunity and grateful for the confidence Microsoft's leadership has in me to lead critical work in my new role."
