Departing Microsoft channel chief Rodney Clark is headed to Johnson Controls, a provider of building automation technology. Johnson Controls late Thursday announced that Clark will become the company’s chief commercial officer on June 1.

Johnson Controls’ Rodney Clark

Clark last week unexpectedly said he would leave Microsoft after nearly 25 years. While he said that he was leaving for a new opportunity with a Microsoft partner, he didn’t disclose the company until now. Johnson Controls and Microsoft announced their latest partnership in late 2020. The two companies agreed to integrate Microsoft’s Azure Digital Twins with Johnson Controls’ OpenBlue digital platform.

Azure Digital Twins is part of Microsoft’s internet of things platform for creating digital models of physical environments. OpenBlue is Johnson Controls’ connected solutions offering, designed to provide sustainable, safe and secure experiences for building occupants.

As chief commercial officer at Johnson Controls, Clark will replace Brian Young, who retired at the end of 2021. Also, Clark will take on some of the responsibilities of Johnson Controls’ chief customer and digital officer, who will retire at the end of this year.

George Oliver is Johnson Controls’ chairman and CEO.

“As we deliver on growth platforms such as decarbonization in smart, healthy buildings, Rodney will build on our progress, collaborating with customers on outcome-based solutions and service offerings through OpenBlue, while expanding our market, building scale, capacity and capability,” said Oliver.

Clark’s Microsoft History

While Clark was most recently Microsoft’s global channel chief, he was in that role for just over a tumultuous year. Nevertheless, Clark was highly regarded, having spent roughly nine years focused on Microsoft’s IoT and mixed reality initiatives. Before Microsoft tapped Clark to replace channel chief Gavriella Schuster, Clark was corporate VP of IoT and mixed reality sales. Clark also spent two years as general manager of Microsoft’s Samsung alliance. At Johnson Controls, Clark will advance many of the strategies and technologies he once was selling.

“They have an incredible team that is driving innovative technology that transforms ordinary buildings into dynamic, healthier, safer spaces for all of us to enjoy,” said Clark. “Adding intelligent cloud and intelligent edge solutions to their traditional offerings creates an enormous opportunity and will help customers address their most critical challenges — including the achievement of sustainability targets with agile, flexible and scalable solutions.”