Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer Visits Central and Eastern European Region in April 2009

Media Alert

Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer Visits Central and Eastern European Region in April 2009

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Officer, will be touring Russia and Poland as part of his overseas trip on April 20-24. During his time in the region, Ballmer will be making a number of local announcements which are of significant interest for the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. This tour comes at a time when many countries are facing significant challenges in light of the current economic climate. Ballmer’s tour reinforces Microsoft’s commitment to CEE countries and aims to continue the dialogue with partners on strategies for surviving the crisis; working with government partners on key citizenship issues, and supporting local initiatives to continue fostering local growth and development across the region.

Vahé Torossian, President, Microsoft Central and Eastern Europe said “We are delighted that Steve is coming to the region. Steve’s continued commitment to our markets, particularly in the context of the economic downturn, is incredibly important for our customers and partners. Many countries are experiencing their first full blown financial crisis of this scale and no-one is immune. Microsoft more than ever has the responsibility to act as a trusted advisor and a thought leader for its private and public sector customers, helping them go through these challenging times. Steve’s visit will address how partners can best collaborate to increase business vitality. It will also reflect on how Central and Eastern European enterprises can continue developing their ability to compete in a modern global economy.’’