Middle East-based Microsoft partners have said new CEO Satya Nadella must move quickly to fix what they see is a channel detached from the company's mobile and cloud computing strategy for the region.

Although partners have welcomed the appointment of Nadella, they said the biggest challenge the new chief executive faces is a channel that is disengaged from the company's cloud computing and mobile solutions strategy in the Middle East.

The channel uproar among partners especially around the mobile strategy comes in the wake of Microsoft’s lack of strategy on how enterprise-focused solution providers will be engaged with the mobile business, given the large Windows installed base in the enterprise segment in the Middle East.

Nadella, a 22-year Microsoft veteran, previously was executive vice president of the company's cloud and enterprise engineering group. He has been widely credited with leading the technical shift across the company's products and services, including its cloud computing initiatives.

"While we welcome the positive move that Microsoft has made by naming Nadella as the new CEO, we are also hoping that he addresses the challenges with the product strategy and development especially around its mobility solutions in the tablets and smartphone segment,” said Vasant Menghani, founder and CEO of Touchmate, a Dubai-based smartphone and tablet maker and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner.