Microsoft
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Paul Rellis, managing director, Microsoft Ireland
Paul Rellis was appointed managing director of Microsoft Ireland in December 2007 and is responsible for Microsoft Corporation’s business in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and also represents Microsoft on all strategic policy and communications issues in Ireland.
Prior to being appointed MD, Rellis was the managing director for Microsoft’s European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Operations Centre, based in Sandyford, Co Dublin, where he was responsible for services across 131 countries. Previously, he held the position of finance director for Microsoft Operations in EMEA and Asia-Pacific.
He joined Microsoft in January 2000 from The Coca-Cola Company, where he held a variety of senior positions in finance, marketing and operations.
Rellis was president of the American Chamber of Commerce in 2008 and continues to be a board member of the organisation. He is also a member of the governing body of IBEC, is a member of the board of the IMI and of the National Digital Research Centre. He also chair of the Joint Implementation Group set up by the Department of Education under the €150-million plan for ‘Smart Schools’.
He is also the chair of the steering group that is looking at the development of a new national strategy for higher education in Ireland.
About Microsoft
Microsoft first opened its doors in Ireland in 1985 with a small manufacturing facility employing just over 100 people. Since then, Microsoft Ireland has grown to encompass four distinct operations at its campus in Sandyford in Dublin. The company now employs over 1,200 full-time employees and 700 full-time contract staff.
Microsoft Ireland encompasses three separate divisions, Microsoft EMEA Operations Centre (EOC), Microsoft European Development Centre (EDC) and the Microsoft Sales, Marketing & Services Group (SMSG), which supports Microsoft's business across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
The divisions cover a broad range of functions, including R&D, engineering, localisation, finance, billing, logistics, supply chain management, as well as local sales and marketing.
In late 2007, Microsoft announced its intention to locate the company's first Windows Live EMEA Data Centre in Dublin, with an investment of US$500m. The data centre, which is currently under construction, will be located at Grange Castle Business Park, Co Dublin.
Microsoft Ireland prides itself on its ‘entrepreneurial culture’, encouraging employees to generate and exchange ideas. This emphasis on developing a trusting workplace culture ensured Microsoft Ireland was the overall winner in the Best Workplaces in Ireland 2009.
As well as this, Microsoft Ireland has always participated in the local community, running initiatives such as Imagine Cup and the School of the Future programme under its Unlimited Potential programme. As well as this, it is a member of Business in the Community Ireland (BITC), and has participated in BITC’s Schools mentoring programme since 2005.
