Insider Spotlight
The announcement, dated Jan. 5, places leadership focus on a region Salesforce sees as a major growth engine for artificial intelligence–driven business transformation.
Carvouni will oversee strategy across ASEAN markets, including the Philippines, as enterprises integrate AI agents with humans, apps, and data on a unified platform.
Why it matters
For Filipinos, the appointment signals deeper investment in the local digital economy. Salesforce opened a new office in the Philippines in October 2025, adding to its footprint in Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia.
This leadership change suggests the company is positioning the country not just as a support market, but as a participant in higher-value AI adoption that can boost productivity, create new tech roles, and modernize industries such as banking, retail, and public services.
By the numbers
Salesforce estimates AI represents a $1-trillion growth opportunity for ASEAN by 2030. The company says agentic enterprises can help organizations leapfrog traditional digital transformation timelines, unlocking faster growth and innovation across the region.
Between the lines
In the middle of its expansion push, Salesforce has rolled out Agentforce Service and Employee Agent in several ASEAN languages.
This announcement comes from a press release and highlights how localization is becoming a competitive differentiator as global tech firms race to embed AI into everyday business workflows.
Leadership focus
Carvouni brings more than two decades of experience from technology companies including Microsoft and Riverbed Technology, with a track record of building high-growth teams across Asia Pacific and ASEAN.
His mandate is not only revenue growth, but cultivating operational excellence as AI becomes central to enterprise decision-making.
What they’re saying
"ASEAN is a vibrant and strategically vital region for us. We are in the midst of an agentic AI revolution that can vastly accelerate the region’s economic growth," said Arun Kumar Parmeswaran, executive vice president & managing director, South Asia, Salesforce.
"I am incredibly excited to lead Salesforce’s commitment to the ASEAN region. The AI revolution presents an immense opportunity for impact across every country, industry and segment, from SMBs to large-scale Enterprise & Public sector organizations," said Carvouni.
The bottom line
For the Philippines, Salesforce’s leadership bet reinforces the country’s role in ASEAN’s AI-driven future, where Filipino talent and enterprises stand to gain from faster innovation, smarter systems, and more globally competitive digital capabilities. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
