Microsoft appoints Ana Maria Lopes as new head of Portugal

Microsoft has appointed Ana Maria Lopes as the new General Manager for its Portuguese operations. Lopes is set to assume the role on September 1, succeeding Andrés Ortolá, who led the company in Portugal from 2022 until July of this year.

Lopes, a chemical engineer by training, will report directly to Charles Calestroupat, President of Microsoft South Europe. She becomes the third woman to lead the company’s Portuguese division. Her previous experience within Microsoft includes leading the Modernization and Third-Party Sales Solutions area for the EMEA region.

Her primary objectives include defining the company’s national strategy, strengthening collaborations with public and private entities, and promoting the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence. Lopes emphasized that the current era of AI presents “unprecedented opportunities” for both organizations and individuals, noting the importance of accelerating AI adoption to bolster Portugal’s economic competitiveness.