Avanade has appointed Chris Howarth (pictured) as its new chief executive officer, succeeding Rodrigo Caserta, who will step down after more than 11 years with the company to take on a senior leadership role at Microsoft.
Caserta, who has served as Avanade’s CEO since 2024, will join Microsoft as corporate vice-president for Small, Medium Enterprises & Channel (SME&C) in the Americas. Avanade said the transition reflects the close strategic ties between Accenture, Microsoft and the joint venture.
Manish Sharma, chief strategy and services officer at Accenture and chair of Avanade’s board of directors, said Howarth’s appointment ensures continuity in leadership and strategy.
“Chris brings deep knowledge of Avanade, strong alignment across Accenture and Microsoft, and a proven record of leadership,” Sharma said. “His appointment ensures continuity in our strategy and momentum, while further strengthening Avanade’s central role in the joint venture.”
Howarth has worked closely with Avanade for more than five years through senior leadership roles within Accenture’s Microsoft business. He joins Avanade after a 28-year career at Accenture, where he was involved in driving joint innovation, client delivery and growth across the Accenture–Microsoft ecosystem.
As CEO, Howarth will lead Avanade through its next phase of growth, building on the company’s existing strategy and priorities. He will also retain responsibility for Accenture’s overall relationship with Microsoft, reflecting Avanade’s role in supporting growth across customer segments for both organisations.
“I’m honoured to join Avanade as CEO, building on the strong foundation Rodrigo and the leadership team have established,” Howarth said. “Rodrigo’s leadership has positioned Avanade for sustained momentum, and his move to Microsoft further strengthens our partnership. I’m excited to work with our people, clients and partners as we harness the potential of AI to drive transformation and accelerate value.”
Avanade said Caserta’s move to Microsoft marks the next chapter in a long-standing collaboration between the two companies, with continued alignment expected across joint initiatives and customer engagements.
