RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Tech giant NetApp has tapped a Microsoft veteran to serve as its new president.

Cesar Cernuda, the former president of Microsoft Latin America and corporate vice president of Microsoft Corporation, has been named to the position, leading NetApp’s global “go-to-market operations spanning sales, marketing, services, and support.”

He will report to CEO George Kurian, effective in July.

Based in Sunnyvale, California, NetApp operates one of its major corporate campuses in Research Triangle Park.

Cesar Cernuda, Source: LinkedIn

“As we look to accelerate our cloud and software strategy, Cesar’s experience in successfully transforming large global organizations will strengthen NetApp’s position as a leader in cloud data services and drive value for our shareholders,” said Kurian, in a statement. “I’m excited to welcome a leader of his caliber.”

“As we look to accelerate our cloud and software strategy, Cesar’s experience in successfully transforming large global organizations will strengthen NetApp’s position as a leader in cloud data services and drive value for our shareholders”

Before that, Cernuda was president of Microsoft Asia Pacific, where he led the company’s commercial and consumer products and service and support offerings. He also served as the worldwide vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions sales and field operations. He oversaw the Microsoft ERP and CRM go-to-market business worldwide. Earlier, he was vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions International, where he was responsible for sales, presales, channel, marketing, product, support, and services.

Cernuda earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from ESIC University in Spain and completed a management development program (PDD) from IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Spain. In 2012, he completed the “Leadership for Senior Executives” program offered by Harvard Business School.

Cernuda is an independent board member of GESTAMP, a multinational company that specializes in the design, development, and manufacture of highly engineered metal components for the automotive industry.

“I believe that NetApp will become a key partner in every organization’s data strategy, and I am looking forward to being a part of it,” said Cernuda, in a statement.