Ralph Haupter is leading Microsoft’s new SME&C partner organization

Microsoft has formed a new partner organization, Small, Medium Enterprises and Channel, or SME&C, that will operate under chief commercial officer Judson Althoff. 

Ralph Haupter will move from his role as president of Microsoft’s EMEA region, where he served for five years, to become president of SME&C, reporting to Althoff. Samer Abu-Ltaif will step into the role of president for Microsoft EMEA.

Haupter has also had leadership roles for Microsoft in Asia and Europe over his twenty years with the company.

Kevin Peesker, who has been Microsoft’s president of SMB & Corporate markets (SMC) recently announced his retirement.

The move comes just after Microsoft identified lagging performance for both SMB and SMC channel segments in its Q2 2025 earnings report. 

“Challenges were in what we call the scale motion,” Microsoft CFO Amy Hood told analysts on January 29. She added that the changes implemented earlier in the year will take time to filter through Microsoft’s vast partner network and that “adjustments” were coming. 

“I expect, while we will see some impact through H2 just because when you work through the scale motion, it can take some time for that to adjust, I feel good that the teams understand and are working through that,” she added. 

Haupter started the role leading global SME&C on February 1, he explained in a LinkedIn post.