(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Microsoft Corporation hired Leila Serhan Salem as the new Regional General Manager for North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Pakistan on Tuesday, replacing former regional GM Sayed Hashish.
Salem was previously the General Manager of Microsoft Lebanon and Emerging Marekets.
“I am very excited” said Serhan. “It is a place where you can bring Lebanese talent to the forefront.”
Serhan who lives and works in Lebanon, said that the “Lebanese have big ideas.”
“We have a reservoir of creativity in Lebanon but the country still requires more investment,” she said. “Microsoft can bring this combination of investment and talent.”
Serhan graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She went on to work six years with Libancell, where she headed the Financial Planning and Budgeting unit, and was one of the youngest managers in the company.
She joined Microsoft in September 2002 as the financial controller for the Eastern Mediterranean subsidiary. In 2003, she moved to the marketing department, holding the Marketing manager position for three years, where she was responsible for the marketing strategy and the product marketing strategy for the Eastern Mediterranean and Pakistan region.
In 2006, she was promoted to become the Small and Medium enterprises and Solution Partners Manager for Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean and Pakistan.
Serhan received membership in the Platinum Club of the Circle of Excellenence Awards at Microsoft, one of the highest achievement awards in the company.