Microsoft Canada Development Centre Appoints Parminder Singh as Managing Director
Seasoned veteran brings more than 22 years experience in building, operating and managing international businesses
Richmond, BC - Friday, November 9, 2007 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the appointment of Parminder Singh to the role of Managing Director of the new Microsoft Canada Development Centre (MCDC) in Richmond, BC. Mr. Singh brings more than 22 years of professional experience in building, operating and managing international businesses around the world.
"As a Canadian, the chance to lead the Microsoft Canada Development Centre is a rare and exciting opportunity," said Parminder Singh, Managing Director, Microsoft Canada Development Centre. "There is tremendous potential for this centre's developers to make important contributions to Microsoft software. The work that will be done at the MCDC will be foundational in nature; developers will be working on a variety of Microsoft products. In some cases they will build enhancements for existing Microsoft software, in other instances they will create something entirely new. This is very highly skilled development work being done by some of the world's most accomplished developers."
Microsoft chose to locate the Microsoft Development Centre in the Greater Vancouver Area because the region is a global gateway with international reach, is consistently ranked among the top cities in the world in which to live and work, boasts a burgeoning technology sector and is a diverse, multi-cultural community. The Greater Vancouver Area is also a short commute to Microsoft's Redmond, WA headquarters.
"Locating the development centre in Richmond will have tremendous benefit for the Metro Vancouver area," said Andrew Nazareth, the City of Richmond's General Manager, Business and Financial Services. "Richmond is a major centre for software. Bringing skilled developers from around the world to Canada complements the talent we already have and builds a more competitive industry, further strengthening our national economy."
"The work that will be done at the Microsoft Canada Development Centre will not only contribute to Microsoft software," said Phil Sorgen, President, Microsoft Canada Co. "The MCDC will benefit all of Canada by attracting highly-skilled developers from around the world to our country, building our skilled workforce and making us more competitive as a nation."
Prior to joining the Microsoft Canada Development Centre, Mr. Singh was the founder and CEO of Evenio Media, where he was responsible for the company's core software design and the development of an award winning multimedia publishing platform. Mr. Singh gained extensive experience with sales, marketing and business development when he served as the Vice President of World Wide Market Development of Ensequence's Interactive Television publishing platform.
Early in his career, Mr. Singh spent four years with Microsoft, operating as the Director of Business Development for Xbox. For Xbox, Mr. Singh provided strategic counsel to develop strategies and lead negotiations with major manufacturing and content partners. He also served as the General Manager for Xbox in Japan. Mr. Singh has held executive positions at companies in Canada and US including: Telesat Canada, Motorola, Teledesic, FreeInternet Networks, and 5th Link Software. Additionally, he has consulted for numerous companies including: Boeing, Acer, ATT, Flextronics, Wistron, Hughes Aircraft Company, Space Systems/Loral, Nortel, and Bell Northern Research.
"Microsoft is committed to hiring the best and the brightest employees around the world and in every market we work in," said Lisa Brummel, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Microsoft Corp. "Under Parminder's leadership, Microsoft will be able to create a development centre to house some of the most accomplished young tech minds from Canada and from around the world."
The Microsoft Canada Development Centre will operate as one of a handful of development centres outside the company's Redmond, Wash., headquarters. Other development centres are located in North Carolina, Ireland, Denmark and Israel. In addition, the company houses full research and development centres in the United Kingdom, India, China and Silicon Valley.
The facility is currently under construction and is welcoming global development talent. An official grand opening will take place in Spring 2008.
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT"), the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Microsoft Canada is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with MSN.CA offices located in Toronto and eight regional offices across the country. The company supports local communities across Canada by creating innovative technology and partnerships that help people realize their full potential.
