Jean-Philippe Courtois

Here is a detailed biography of Jean-Philippe Courtois — a French business executive and technologist whose leadership at Microsoft and in social impact is widely recognized.

Jean-Philippe Courtois – Life, Career, and Vision

Explore the journey of French executive Jean-Philippe Courtois — from joining Microsoft in 1984 to leading global sales, championing digital transformation, and co-founding the Live for Good foundation.

Introduction

Jean-Philippe Courtois is a French businessman and tech executive best known for his long tenure at Microsoft, where he served as Executive Vice President and President of Global Sales, Marketing & Operations, among other roles. Beyond his corporate career, he is co-founder of the Live for Good foundation and a thought leader in positive leadership and social entrepreneurship.

His path combines deep commercial acumen, global technology insight, and a commitment to impact and purpose.

Early Life, Education & Origins

• Courtois was born in 1960 (some sources list 1959/1960) in Algiers, though he is of French nationality.

• He studied at the École Supérieure de Commerce de Nice (SKEMA / ESC Nice), earning a DECS (“Diplôme des Études Commerciales Supérieures”) — a diploma in advanced business studies.

• Early in his career, he interned at a local software firm in Nice (Memsoft) but ultimately declined a job offer there to join Microsoft in 1984.

His background grounded him in business education and gave him early exposure to technology, which would shape his future career arc.

Career at Microsoft

Joining Microsoft & Early Years

• Courtois joined Microsoft in 1984 as a sales representative.

• Over his early years, he rotated through various leadership assignments in sales and marketing.

• In 1994, he became General Manager of Microsoft France, returning to his home country in a leadership role.

Rise Through Regional & Global Leadership

• Courtois went on to lead the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region as CEO/President of Microsoft EMEA.

• He also held roles as Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Customer Marketing (based in Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond) and other functions tied to global go-to-market strategies.

• Eventually, he became Executive Vice President, President of Global Sales, Marketing & Operations — overseeing Microsoft’s commercial business globally (across 124 subsidiaries).

• Toward the end of his career at Microsoft, he took on the role of EVP and President, National Transformation Partnerships, focusing on digital transformation of national economies, government / public sector partnerships, and enabling infrastructure investment.

He retired from Microsoft in September 2024.

Social Mission & “Live for Good”

• In 2015, following the loss of his son Gabriel, Courtois and his family founded the Live for Good foundation. Its mission is to empower young social entrepreneurs and changemakers to launch projects with positive environmental or social impact — especially leveraging digital tools and innovation.

• Alongside his corporate work, he speaks publicly about Positive Leadership — leading with purpose, trust, and mission — and hosts a podcast or series under that theme.

Additional Roles, Boards & Influence

• He serves (or has served) on the board of ManpowerGroup, contributing to human capital and workforce strategies.

• He is Chair of SKEMA Business School’s Board (since 2017).

• He is a board member of Positive Planet, and has engagements with public policy / digital inclusion organizations.

• He co-chaired the World Economic Forum’s Digital Divide Initiative Task Force, and participated in European Commission ICT working groups.

These roles reflect his interest in bridging technology, development, and leadership beyond purely corporate domains.

Leadership Style & Philosophy

Courtois’s leadership is often framed around several key themes:

• Positive Leadership: focusing on purpose, trust, human growth, and aligning personal mission with organizational mission.

• Transformative digital vision: he sees technology as an enabler of national change — governments, economies, and public sector becoming digitally empowered.

• Ecosystem thinking: under his leadership, Microsoft’s commercial operations engaged ecosystems of small business, startups, public institutions, and global enterprises.

• Resilience and purpose: turning personal tragedy into social mission (via Live for Good) and integrating purpose into business is a recurring motif in his narrative.

Challenges & Critiques

While Courtois has not been mired in major scandals publicly, some typical challenges for high tech executives at his scale include:

• Balancing commercial interests vs. social mission — how to maintain profitability while championing inclusive digital access

• Navigating regulation, political risk, and public sector partnerships — government partnerships often bring scrutiny and complexity

• Maintaining innovation momentum at a large scale — as Microsoft grew, adapting fast is harder

• Ensuring digital equity — his role in national transformation raises expectations about reaching underserved communities

Legacy & Impact

Jean-Philippe Courtois’s legacy has multiple dimensions:

1. Global technology leadership – He played a vital role in shaping Microsoft’s presence and commercial operations worldwide.

2. Bridging business and impact – Through Live for Good and his leadership philosophy, he contributes to the narrative that business and social good can coexist.

3. Mentorship & leadership development – His advocacy for positive leadership influences leaders beyond tech.

4. Influence in public policy and digital inclusion – His work with WEF, European Commission, and public sector partnerships helps set norms in digital transformation.