Kathleen Mitford

Kathleen Mitford is Corporate Vice President of Global Industry Marketing at Microsoft. She leads a global team focused on bringing the full potential of the Microsoft Cloud and AI platforms to customers and partners through an industry-first approach. 

Her team aligns Microsoft’s technology with the distinct needs, challenges, and priorities of each sector—including retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, government, education, and energy. By grounding innovation in the realities of each industry, this approach empowers organizations to adopt AI more effectively, securely, and to transform how they operate, engage customers, and deliver impact.

Kathleen brings vision and pragmatism to helping customers move beyond experimentation to achieve transformative outcomes, accelerate innovation and lead with confidence in the era of AI.

Her career in tech started when she transitioned from being a fashion designer to working for a software company that supplied technology to the fashion industry. Before joining Microsoft, Kathleen served as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for PTC, where she led product portfolio, strategy, M&A, alliances, marketing, and academic programs. 

Kathleen is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology, especially in advancing women in leadership. She has been recognized with several awards for her innovation and impact, including a Stevie Award and a Mass Technology Leadership Council Award. She lives in Seattle with her family and enjoys art, travel, gardening, and outdoor adventures.