By Jeff Raikes
I first met Marc when he joined Microsoft in the late 1990’s to run Microsoft France. He impressed me with his intellect, big-picture view, and human touch. Under his leadership, the subsidiary grew strongly, navigated the Y2K transition, and achieved increased customer satisfaction and world-class employee engagement. When Marc returned to Seattle to be my CFO, I gave him the business and strategy challenge of simultaneously investing for growth while protecting against downside in the Office franchise, which was then nearly a $10 billion business. His opportunity maps and analysis of Information Work helped Microsoft identify attractive investments, and his courage and leadership to champion these investments led to significant and sustained profit growth at Microsoft.
Marc and I share a passion for realizing technology’s potential to change the world. In 2005, he left Microsoft to become CEO of the leading software and solutions provider to the nonprofit world. At Blackbaud, he has again proven his ability to accelerate the growth of a market leader using tactical vision and a combination of internal development and strategic acquisitions. Marc has forged a tremendous team of business and technology executives to help Blackbaud strengthen its relationships with existing customers and grow its core addressable markets, all while helping nonprofits better the rapidly growing, global challenges they face. Under his leadership, I expect Blackbaud to remain on the cutting edge of being the technology partner to people everywhere who are making the world a better place.
Jeff Raikes was the President of the Microsoft Business Division and today is the CEO of the Gates Foundation.
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