BDO recognised by Microsoft

2026 Microsoft Partner of the Year Award recognises BDO’s work advancing secure, governed AI

Chicago - November 12, 2026 – BDO, a leading international professional services provider, today announced it has been named the 2026 Microsoft Data Security and Governance Partner of the Year, recognising the firm's work helping clients strengthen data protection and governance as they adopt and scale AI. The firm was honoured among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

“AI transformation is much more than technology. It requires organisations to rethink how they govern data, manage risk and empower their people to innovate,” said Eskander Yavar, Global Head of Advisory, BDO. This recognition reflects how BDO teams around the world are helping clients establish the governance foundation they need to embrace AI with confidence and turn its potential into meaningful business outcomes.”

The 2026 recognition builds on BDO's longstanding work with Microsoft and reflects client engagements across industries and global regions. By combining technical capabilities with industry and business knowledge, BDO helps organisations address immediate data security and governance needs while preparing for how AI will reshape their operations. 

“Our work with Microsoft goes beyond implementing technology. We're helping clients understand and manage the security and governance challenges that come with adopting AI,” said Rocco Galletto, Global Cybersecurity Leader, BDO. “By bringing Microsoft's technology together with BDO's cybersecurity, data governance and advisory expertise, we can help organisations better protect sensitive information, strengthen controls and establish clear accountability. This recognition reflects the work our teams are doing together to help clients use AI securely and responsibly.”

Looking ahead, BDO is helping clients navigate the next phase of AI with Microsoft, from governing AI agents and building AI-ready data foundations with Microsoft Fabric to advancing frontier transformation as AI becomes more deeply embedded across business functions.

The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards celebrate partners delivering exceptional customer outcomes through Microsoft Cloud, AI, services and devices. This year’s winners and finalists were selected from more than 4,500 nominations submitted worldwide across a diverse range of categories and geographies.  

"BDO is showing what frontier transformation looks like in practice: starting with human ambition, redesigning the flow of work with AI, and proving the model first within its own business," said Deb Cupp, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Global Enterprise at Microsoft. "By turning those customer zero lessons into a repeatable approach for clients, BDO and Microsoft can help organisations transform with trust, confidence and scale. Congratulations to BDO as our Data Security and Governance Partner of the Year."

The 2026 Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards are announced ahead of Microsoft Ignite, which will be held in San Francisco from November 17-20. Additional details on the 2026 awards are available on the Microsoft Partner blog: https://aka.ms/2026POTYA_Announcement. 
 
The complete list of categories, winners and finalists can be found at https://aka.ms/2026POTYAWinnersFinalists.

About BDO

The BDO network (referred to as the ‘BDO network’) is an international network of independent public accounting, tax and advisory firms which are members of BDO International Limited and perform professional services under the name and style of BDO (hereafter: ‘BDO member firms’). BDO International Limited is a UK company limited by guarantee. It is the governing entity of the BDO network. 

Service provision within the BDO network is coordinated by Brussels Worldwide Services BV, a limited liability company incorporated in Belgium. 

Each of BDO International Limited, Brussels Worldwide Services BV and the BDO member firms is a separate legal entity and has no liability for another entity’s acts or omissions. Nothing in the arrangements or rules of the BDO network shall constitute or imply an agency relationship or a partnership between BDO International Limited, Brussels Worldwide Services BV and/or the BDO member firms. Neither BDO International Limited nor any other central entities of the BDO network provide services to clients. 

BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO member firms. 

The fee income of the BDO network was US$10.8 billion (€9.7 billion) in 2025. Member firms provide public accounting, tax and advisory services across 170 countries and territories, with over 94,900 people and 870 offices worldwide. 

© Brussels Worldwide Services BV