Pamela Maynard, the former CEO of Avanade, has joined Microsoft as the chief AI transformation officer for the Customer and Partner Solutions business. Maynard spent 16 years at Avanade, a company that offers digital, cloud, and AI services across the Microsoft ecosystem. In her new role, Maynard will lead important work in the field of AI at Microsoft. Rodrigo Caserta, a veteran of Avanade, will take over as the new CEO of the company, effective September 1. Avanade chair Karthik Narain expressed confidence in Caserta’s ability to lead the company’s expansion and thanked Maynard for her leadership in doubling the business and promoting inclusion, diversity, and well-being.
Jordan Weisman, a game designer known for creating games such as BattleTech and Shadowrun, is working on a new game project called Sea of Legends. The game is described as an open-world pirate CPRG set in a reimagined Caribbean filled with magic and mayhem. Weisman’s company, Endless Adventures Inc., is also working on Adventure Forge, a toolset for game development. Weisman’s Harebrained Schemes was acquired by Paradox Interactive in 2018. He has a background as a gaming leader at Microsoft and a creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering.
Shankha Sen has joined Responsive (formerly RFPIO), a Portland-based RFP software company, as the new chief financial officer. Sen previously worked as a vice president at PowerSchool and spent nearly 15 years at Red Hat. He brings valuable experience to his new role at Responsive. Additionally, Alex Day, a Seattle entrepreneur, has joined Authentive, a customer information verification startup, as co-founder and COO. Day expressed excitement about the company’s early customer traction and is eager to build another successful company.
Joseph Williams, the Information and Communications Technology Sector Lead for the state of Washington, has been named co-chair of the National Institute for Standards and Technology Small Business Cybersecurity vendor forum. This appointment recognizes Williams’ expertise in cybersecurity and his leadership within the industry. These appointments and new roles highlight the ongoing innovation and growth within the technology sector in the Pacific Northwest. The region continues to attract top talent and drive advancements in AI, gaming, software development, and cybersecurity.
