Name: Mr Bob Herbold.

Title: Executive vice-president and chief operating officer of Microsoft Corporation.

Why in the news: He unveiled the Microsoft.Net strategy in Dublin last week and revealed it would be the software e-procurement hub for the European, Middle East and African regions.

Education: He holds a BSc degree from the University of Cincinnati and both a Master's degree in mathematics and a PhD in computer science from Case Western Reserve University.

Career: Joined Microsoft Corporation in 1994 from Procter & Gamble.