Cloud Direct, one of the UK’s leading Microsoft partners, has announced the appointment of Leighton Searle as Chief Executive Officer. Leighton brings more than 25 years of experience in the industry, including nearly two decades at Microsoft where he held senior leadership positions driving cloud, data and AI transformation globally.
Leighton succeeds Cloud Direct’s founder Brett Raynes, who established the business 22 years ago and pioneered cloud adoption for UK organisations. Brett will transition to Executive Chair, continuing to guide strategic direction and product development.
Commenting on his appointment, Leighton said: “Cloud Direct has earned an outstanding reputation as a trusted Microsoft partner, and I’m honoured to join such a talented team with a strong, customer-first culture. I’m excited to lead the next chapter of growth, helping organisations unlock the full potential of Microsoft technologies and embrace the transformative power of AI.”
Raynes, Executive Chair at Cloud Direct, said: “Founding and then leading Cloud Direct for two decades has been a real privilege. As we continue to deepen our AI services, Leighton’s experience and vision will help us scale faster and deliver even greater impact for our frontier customers.”
Cloud Direct has grown into a team of 150 experts across its offices in the UK and South Africa, recording 26 per cent year-on-year revenue growth. It boasts a long history of innovation, having been among the very first Microsoft partners to earn the Azure Expert Managed Service Provider accreditation, which it holds alongside other certifications in Azure, Data and AI, Modern Workplace, and Security Services.
Looking forward, Cloud Direct is breaking new ground with AI Frontier Services, developing internal use cases where it acts as its own first customer, and collaborating closely with early adopters. These new services are set to launch at scale throughout 2026, marking the company’s next chapter of innovation.
