People, IT, Rural, Telecoms, Global: The Grameen Foundation has announced the election of Paul Maritz as Chairman of its Board of Directors. He replaces Susan M Davis who will remain on the Board after serving as chairman for six-and-a-half years. The election was held following celebrations recognising Grameen Foundation's ten years of service.

A former senior executive at Microsoft, Paul Maritz's relationship with Grameen Foundation began in 2002 when he became a volunteer member of its Technology Centre Advisory Council. In 2003, he joined the Grameen Foundation Board, bringing more than 20 years of experience in business and technology, and a passion for using information and communication technologies to empower individuals and communities across the developing world.

"Paul shares our commitment to broadening microfinance's reach and impact and has provided great leadership through visits to our partners in the field and his work with our strategic services team," said Alex Counts, President of Grameen Foundation. "His extensive technology background and his experience in African development issues will be particularly invaluable as we expand our work in these areas."

Grameen Foundation's volunteer Board plays a critical role in nurturing new ideas, innovations, strategic thinking and programme development for an organisation which, through its global network of 46 partners, impacts the lives of 18 million poor people around the world. Under Paul Martiz's leadership, Grameen Foundation will continue to develop innovative financial, social management and technology solutions to help the microfinance industry improve its outreach and impact. It will also continue its rapid geographic expansion to ensure that more poor people, especially those in under-served areas, gain access to essential financial services.

"Microfinance is at a critical stage in its development and we will be actively working to help the industry move to a new level in the way it uses technology, secures capital and measures its impact," said Mr Maritz, who spent 14 years at Microsoft where he was a member of the executive management team and was responsible for major parts of the company's software business, including the development and marketing of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office, as well as Microsoft's Internet, Development Tools and Database efforts. Prior to that, he spent five years at Intel Corporation, and also worked as a researcher at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Paul Maritz attended the Universities of Cape Town and Natal in South Africa. He maintains strong ties with Africa where he sponsors projects in education and rural development in Zambia. He is currently CEO of Pi Corporation, a software company that he helped found.

Paul Maritz becomes the fourth Chairman of Grameen Foundation's Board of Directors; predecessors are Susan M Davis, Reed Oppenheimer and James F Sams.

• more info: www.grameenfoundation.org