Microsoft to Reorganize Partner, Service Teams, Promises No Job Cuts
Microsoft is implementing some changes to its partner and services teams that will take effect Feb. 1, according to a report by ZDNet on Wednesday.
The moves affect Microsoft’s sales, partner and services teams under the Worldwide Commercial Business group, the report says, which is led by executive vice president Judson Althoff. A Microsoft spokesperson told ZDNet that the reorg would not result in any job losses.
The changes come more than three years after Steve Ballmer outlined his vision for "One Microsoft" where instead of siloed teams working on individual products, the company operates as "one, big integrated company, where all the products work with each other, and all the teams work together."
As part of the reorganization, Microsoft is combining its Enterprise & Partner Group (EPG) and Small and Mid-Market Solutions and Partners (SMS&P). The combined businesses will be led by Chris Weber, current corporate VP of midmarket solutions and partners, ZDNet reports.
Various partner teams inside the company will come together under the One Commercial Partner business, which will be led by Ron Huddleston, corporate VP of Enterprise Partner Ecosystem for Microsoft.
Huddleston joined the company last year from Salesforce where he held a significant role in building Salesforce AppExchange and its cloud-based channel, OEM and ISV program, ZDNet says.
As part of the changes, Gavriella Schuster and the WPG team will be moving into One Commercial Partner. Schuster was named corporate vice president for Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Group in June 2016, succeeding Phil Sorgen.
On the cloud side, Microsoft is creating a new unit called Microsoft Digital which will be led by Anand Eswaran, corporate VP of Microsoft Services. This unit will focus on getting partners and customers to use Microsoft’s cloud services, and will include evangelists, developers, and digital advisors and architects.
The changes come as Microsoft has consolidated some of its events, and renamed its Worldwide Partner Conference to Microsoft Inspire, which will be held in July in Washington, D.C.
