As we enter a new phase of growth, this leadership transition accelerates Rapid Circle’s next chapter. Building on our strong cloud heritage, with Data and AI now central to our customers’ success and our strategy.
From pioneering the first cloud migration in Europe in 2011 to today’s AI era, Rapid Circle’s cloud expertise positions us perfectly to support customers on their AI journey, meeting them where they are. Whether just beginning or scaling adoption, and guiding them step by step to achieve lasting impact with confidence. Just as importantly, our deep expertise across Microsoft workloads, including security, ensures every transformation is innovative, trusted, and resilient.
AI is forecast to contribute over USD 15 trillion to the global economy by 2030, reshaping industries and redefining productivity worldwide. As a Microsoft-only Solutions Partner, with all six designations and deep expertise across workloads, Rapid Circle is aligned with Microsoft’s growth priorities in AI Business Solutions, Cloud & AI Platforms and Security.
Our full complement of services ensures customers can take advantage of Microsoft Cloud and AI responsibly and at scale. This spans strategy and advisory, technical implementation, change management & adoption, and managed services. Through our role as a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), we also deliver, manage and optimise customers’ Microsoft investments, ensuring they gain maximum value. By combining these capabilities, we not only help organisations deploy AI, but embed it into their day-to-day operations to deliver lasting impact.
As technology moves forward, so do we. From mid-October 2025, George Stavrakakis, previously Managing Director of Rapid Circle Australia & New Zealand, will relocate to the Netherlands to take on the role of Managing Director NL and CEO. George brings a wealth of international experience – including 20 years at Microsoft, a deep understanding of our values, and a proven track record in AI-driven innovation, including founding and scaling an AI venture. His leadership philosophy centres around People, Customers, and Partners, which aligns perfectly with Rapid Circle’s DNA.
George Stavrakakis, Incoming CEO:
“I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at Rapid Circle. We have an incredible foundation of people with expertise, built over decades, and a clear opportunity to help our customers unlock the power of AI and cloud. My focus will be on building on this legacy, deepening our partnerships, and working side by side with our customers to embrace the next wave of digital transformation.”
Harold will remain closely involved with Rapid Circle in a new role as Founder & Board Advisor, Strategic Partnerships; ensuring continuity and stability for our customers and teams.
Harold Punter, Founder & Board Advisor, Strategic Partnerships:
“It has been a privilege to lead Rapid Circle’s journey so far. From the very beginning, our focus has been on building trusted relationships with customers and delivering impact through innovation. I’m proud of what we have achieved together and confident the company will continue to thrive. In my new role, I look forward to supporting our leadership team, strengthening key partnerships, and ensuring we stay true to the values that have always defined Rapid Circle.”
This transition is a natural step in our growth journey, ensuring continuity, stability, and momentum. Our values, our way of working and our commitment to customers remain unchanged, while we strengthen our focus on innovation and growth with AI and Cloud at the core. We remain fully committed to helping our customers succeed, building upon our cloud heritage and placing data, AI, and security at the heart of their transformation.
With proven experience across sectors such as Healthcare, Education, Construction, Retail, Energy, Financial Services, and Government, we combine local expertise with global scale -through established teams in the Netherlands, Australia, and India – supporting organisations wherever they are on their journey.
Stijn Dietz, Director at Mentha:
“Rapid Circle has grown into one of Microsoft’s leading partners, recognised for its people, innovation, and strong customer impact. We are confident that under George’s leadership, the company will accelerate its next chapter of growth while continuing to benefit from Harold’s experience and guidance. Most importantly, this transition ensures Rapid Circle remains a trusted partner for customers as they embrace the opportunities of cloud and AI.”
As George transitions to his new role, Daniel McPherson, one of Rapid Circle’s co-founders, has stepped into the role of Managing Director Australia. Daniel’s deep connection to our mission and community makes him the perfect person to lead the next chapter down under.
Curious to see how others cover our next growth phase? Read the TechVisor article about the appointment of George Stavrakakis as CEO and how Rapid Circle is moving forward with an AI-first strategy
An AI-first operating model at Rapid Circle positions artificial intelligence as a foundational layer across all service domains, from modern work to data platforms. It emphasizes embedding AI capabilities—such as generative AI, automation, and advanced analytics—directly into enterprise workflows to drive scalable, data-driven decision-making and operational efficiency.
With over two decades at Microsoft, George Stavrakakis brings deep expertise in hyperscaler ecosystems, enterprise cloud adoption, and AI commercialization. His background strengthens Rapid Circle’s alignment with Microsoft technologies such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and Copilot, enabling more advanced, integrated AI solutions for enterprise clients.
Rapid Circle’s strategic focus on AI is closely tied to Microsoft’s rapid advancements in generative AI and Copilot capabilities. By leveraging Microsoft’s AI stack, Rapid Circle can deliver enterprise-grade solutions that combine security, compliance, and scalability with cutting-edge AI innovation.
AI acts as a primary growth accelerator, enabling Rapid Circle to expand its value proposition beyond cloud migration and digital workplace solutions. By integrating AI into core offerings, the company aims to unlock new revenue streams, enhance customer outcomes, and differentiate in an increasingly competitive cloud services market.
Rapid Circle adopts a holistic approach to AI adoption, combining strategy, implementation, and change management with strong governance frameworks. This includes addressing data readiness, security, compliance, and ethical AI considerations to ensure responsible and sustainable deployment at scale.
