Chairman Europe, Microsoft Europe
Jan Muehlfeit is responsible for engaging with European governments and policy makers, academics and other societal stakeholders in Brussels and across EU member states. His goal is to ensure that Microsoft continues to act as a trusted, open partner that listens and contributes to Europe’s agenda, enabling long-term growth, local economic competitiveness and job creation and innovation.
In his previous roles, as vice president of public sector and lately as vice president for corporate and government strategy, Jan Muehlfeit was responsible for promoting Microsoft solutions for public-sector organizations and delivering an excellent customer and industry partner experience. He also led Microsoft’s efforts to constructively support the policy goals of governments in EMEA, from employment and social issues through to competitiveness and economic growth.
Muehlfeit joined Microsoft in 1993 and, during his seven years in the company’s Czech and Slovak operations, headed a variety of departments including marketing and sales. In 1998, Muehlfeit was named general manager of Microsoft Czech Republic. Despite the challenging economic environment, his team generated remarkable results, and Muehlfeit became known for his dedication to the success of Microsoft partners and customers in the region. In 2000 he became regional director of Microsoft Eastern Europe and was promoted to vice president in 2002. Under his leadership, Microsoft business expanded substantially in the region, with new offices opening in several countries. In 2004-2005 Jan was also part of Microsoft’s international emerging markets executive board.
Born in 1962, Muehlfeit grew up in Czechoslovakia. He received a computer science degree from the Czech Technical University in 1986 and, before joining Microsoft, worked in the public sector as a programmer and information systems manager. Later he was director of international sales and marketing for Software602, a Czech software development company. Muehlfeit continues to support several charities, including "PCs Against Barriers", a joint initiative of Microsoft Czech Republic and a Czech NGO.. Muehlfeit has received numerous awards, including "Best Manager of Czech Republic for 1999" from the Czech prime minister, the "Czech Brain Award," presented by the Czech minister of foreign affairs and was named the Czech IT Personality of the Year three times. He also serves on the supervisory board of the Charta 77 Foundation and is a board member of the European Academy of Business in Society (EABiS) and the Junior Achievement Young Enterprise Europe (JAYE).
- Session: eGovernment for a better business environment, 20th September.
