Microsoft Israel R&D Chief to Step Down After 13 Years

Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk will step down at the end of 2026 after 13 years at Microsoft, including six and a half years leading its Israel R&D center. She will remain managing director of the center and chief technology officer of Microsoft’s Security Division through year-end, while Microsoft says it will name a successor later. During her tenure, the Israeli R&D operation more than doubled in size, expanded across six sites, and became a global hub for artificial intelligence and cybersecurity development. She joined Microsoft to establish its Cloud Security group in Israel and later helped establish the Cloud and AI Security Division.