Executive Cloud Leadership | Publicis Sapient | Microsoft Azure |Cloud |Digital TransformationJohn Weston is Senior Vice President of Strategy & Consulting and head of the Global Microsoft Practice at Publicis Sapient, where our mission is to help our clients with Digital Business Transformation utilizing cloud modernization. Publicis Sapient’s mission is: To help people thrive in the brave pursuit of next. Our core values include: Engaging with Openness, Partnering for Client Impact, Learning Mindset, Inclusive Collaboration, and Embracing the Future.John comes to Publicis Sapient directly from Microsoft where he has cultivated a 30 year relationship as an employee, contractor, and business partner. His most recent role was Regional Sales Director for Microsoft Enterprise Azure cloud business. Prior to sales management, John was an Azure seller closing the largest Azure deal in 2015 with Walmart. John was honored with Microsoft’s top sales award, the Platinum Club Circle of Excellence, for his work. John was an IT Evangelist, giving over 100 presentations a year, including Windows 7 launch, Azure launch, tech conferences including TechEd, TechReady, Cloud Expo, MS Ready, Ignite, SAP Sapphire, ASUG, SuseCon, and many user groups. As marketing manager, John coordinated a team of specialists delivering technical seminars focusing on customers in tertiary markets. The team conducted over 6,000 events reaching an average of 300 people per event. Prior to Microsoft John was a contract technical trainer. He currently holds over 45 Microsoft certifications.John began his IT career opening Weston Brothers Software, Inc. in 1986. This software development and consulting firm was both an IBM and Microsoft partner. In 1991 Weston Brothers was named to the Dallas 100 list of fastest growing companies in North Texas. Together with his brother, he managed the growth of this company for 10 years before selling it to one of their customers.