Microsoft partners from SL recognised at South East Asia New Markets Partner Awards 2020

 Inspire SEANM 2020 speakers. Top row from left: Microsoft SEA New Markets Azure Business Group Lead Thet Htun Aung, Microsoft Asia Pacific General Manager SEA New Markets Sook Hoon Cheah, Microsoft SEA New Markets Chief Partner Officer Anh Pham, Microsoft Country Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Hasitha Abeywardena, Centre top from left: Microsoft SEA New Markets Product Marketing Manager Manoj Benildus, Microsoft Asia Pacific Commercial Partner Compliance Lead Carol Lee. Centre middle from left: Microsoft SEA New Markets Small and Medium Business Lead Ashiq Niyas, NAS Daily Founder Nuseir Yassin. Centre bottom from left: Microsoft Partner Technology Strategist for Sri Lanka and Maldives Prabhath Mannapperuma, Microsoft Asia Pacific Azure Specialist Sales Manager Pablo Galilea. Bottom from left: Microsoft Partner Technology Strategist for Bangladesh, Nepal, Brunei and Myanmar Jannatul Fardous Popy, Microsoft Asia Pacific Partner Investment and Incentive Lead Danny Chua, Microsoft Asia Pacific Partner Channel Marketing Manager – Recruit Fiona Gan, Hitachi Solutions Vice President Tushar Parashar

• Acknowledged for their innovative solutions and making more possible for customers

Although COVID-19 may have prevented Microsoft partners from gathering in person, partners across Southeast Asia were still able to meet virtually at the Inspire South East Asia New Markets (SEANM) Partner Awards 2020. 

The award ceremony, which was live streamed on Microsoft Teams, brought together partners from nine countries consisting of Bangladesh, Brunei, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The virtual award ceremony was held on the final day of Microsoft’s annual regional partner conference, Inspire SEANM 2020. The conference was held from 22-24 September.

On the first day, partners connected with the Microsoft regional leadership team — Sook Hoon Cheah (General Manager, Southeast Asia New Markets, Microsoft APAC), Zaid Alkadhi (Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft Southeast Asia New Markets), and Anh Pham (Chief Partner Officer, Microsoft Southeast Asia New Markets) — and attended a fireside chat with motivational speaker and digital content creator, Nuseir Yassin of Nas Daily. 

“We’ve encountered so much adversity with the pandemic, but nothing could be more inspirational than the resilience we’ve witnessed, the power of people, our partners coming together for a purpose,” said Sook Hoon Cheah, General Manager, Southeast Asia New Markets, Microsoft APAC. “You have gone above and beyond, delivering timely solutions that solve the complex challenges that businesses face — from communicating and collaborating virtually to helping customers realize their full potential with Azure cloud services, and beyond.” 

On the second day, partners connected with the APAC One Commercial Partner team to learn about the power of partnerships, ways to create new opportunities in the coming year, and to develop an environment that helps them perform at their best.  

On the final day, Microsoft’s Country Managers — Hasitha Abeywardena (Sri Lanka and Maldives), Afif Mohamed Ali (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei and Nepal), Soe Thu Aung (Myanmar) — outlined country-specific priorities for the partners to drive consumption and explore more opportunities. Shortly after their sessions, Microsoft recognised the efforts and achievements of their partners by announcing the winners of the 2020 Partner of the Year Awards.

“It’s an honor to recognize the winners at the Microsoft Inspire South East Asia New Market Partner Awards 2020,” said Hasitha Abeywardena, Country Manager, Microsoft Sri Lanka and Maldives. “These partners go above and beyond, delivering timely solutions that help Sri Lanka’s industries cope with the impact of COVID-19.”

The winners were selected based on their commitment to customers, their solution’s impact on the market and exemplary use of Microsoft technologies. 

Categories and winners 

Modern Work Security Partner of the Year — H-One Ltd. 

Modern Work Teamwork Partner of the Year — H-One Ltd.

Migrate Partner of the Year — John Keells Information Technology Ltd. 

Innovate Partner of the Year — John Keells Information Technology Ltd. 

SAP on Azure Partner of the Year — John Keells Information Technology Ltd. 

Dynamics Partner of the Year — ZILLIONe Technologies Ltd.

ISV Partner of the Year — Microimage Ltd.

Innovation ISV Partner of the Year — CICRA Solutions Ltd.

Tech Intensity Partner of the Year — Sanje Ltd.

Partner to Partner Co Sell Excellence Partner of the Year — H-One Ltd. 

Microsoft Cloud Solution Partner of the Year (In Direct CSP) — Crayon Software Lanka Ltd.

Country Partner of the Year for Sri Lanka & Maldives — H-One Ltd.