Microsoft appoints Nick Walton as NZ Managing Director

Microsoft has appointed Nick Walton as Managing Director for New Zealand. He will take up the role on 7 September 2026.

Walton returns to Microsoft after leading Slalom in New Zealand, where he built the company's local business and worked with large organisations on data and artificial intelligence programmes. He previously held sales leadership roles at Microsoft and has worked across New Zealand, Australia and Asia in AI, cloud and consulting.

The appointment gives Microsoft a permanent country head after Steven Miller served as interim leader for New Zealand from March 2026. Miller will work with Walton during the handover before taking up his new role as Head of Public Sector for Asia.

Jane Livesey, President, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, said Walton's appointment comes at a key moment for the local market.

"Aotearoa has a rare opportunity to lead with confidence in the AI era. We have ambitious customers, a trusted partner ecosystem, deep local ingenuity, and the digital infrastructure to support the next wave of growth. Nick brings a customer-first mindset, a passion for building great teams and the practical, people-centred leadership needed to help New Zealand organisations turn AI ambition into real impact. I'm delighted to welcome him back to Microsoft," said Jane Livesey, President, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand.

Walton takes over the New Zealand business as Microsoft expands its local presence. It has operated in New Zealand for more than 30 years.

A major part of that expansion has been infrastructure. In 2024, Microsoft opened its New Zealand cloud region in Auckland, describing it as the country's first hyperscale cloud region, with three availability zones, 100 per cent carbon-free electricity and a commitment to be water positive.

Local footprint

Microsoft has also set a target to help a further 200,000 New Zealanders build workforce-ready AI skills by 2028. That sits alongside a broader push by global technology groups to play a larger role in national digital skills and workforce training.

According to figures cited by Microsoft from EY-Parthenon, the company contributed NZ$9.4 billion to New Zealand's economy in FY25 and supported 54,300 full-time equivalent jobs. It also works with more than 1,800 partners and 430,000 customers across the country.

Those figures point to the scale of the operation Walton will now oversee. They also underline New Zealand's commercial importance within Microsoft's Australia and New Zealand structure, particularly as businesses and public sector organisations increase spending on cloud services, data platforms and AI tools.

Before rejoining Microsoft, Walton led Slalom's New Zealand operation, giving him experience on the services and advisory side of the market as well as within a major software supplier. That mix may prove relevant as customers seek support not only in buying technology but also in changing internal processes, managing risk and translating AI projects into business outcomes.

In his own comments, Walton pointed to customer interest in AI and productivity while stressing trust and security.

"Customers across Aotearoa are thinking boldly about how AI can help them lift productivity, rethink services, and create new value, while staying grounded in trust, security, and outcomes. New Zealand has always been innovative, creative, and resourceful, and this next chapter will reward organisations that move with ambition and care. That is why I'm excited to return to Microsoft, a company with the technology, partner ecosystem, and local commitment to help customers realise that opportunity," said Walton.

His appointment comes as large technology companies compete to deepen ties with governments, large enterprises and local partners in smaller but digitally advanced markets. In New Zealand, that competition has increasingly centred on access to cloud infrastructure, demand for AI services and the ability to support customers with local data residency and compliance needs.

Walton's experience inside Microsoft and in consulting may help the company navigate that environment. He inherits a business with a long-established local operation, a recently built cloud region and a broad partner network, as well as rising expectations from organisations weighing how far and how fast to adopt AI.

Miller will support the transition before focusing on his new regional public sector role in Asia.