Motorola China exec leaves for Microsoft

The head of Motorola’s China subsidiary has resigned his post to lead Microsoft’s operations in the country.

Microsoft said Monday that it has tapped former Motorola China Electronics Ltd. (MCEL) Chairman and President Tim Chen to take the newly created position of Corporate Vice President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microsoft Greater China.

In his new role, Chen will be responsible for overseeing the software maker’s operations in the country, as well as honing regional strategy and dealing with governance issues. He will also establish and chair Microsoft’s new China Leadership Team which will include executives from each of Microsoft’s business units operating in China, the company said.

In turn, Motorola Executive Vice President Gene Delaney will take Chen’s place as chairman of the board for MCEL, the company said in a statement Monday.

Ruey Bin Kao, corporate vice president and general manager of Motorola’s Global Telecom Solutions Sector, Greater China, has been named executive director of the board and acting president of MCEL, Motorola said.

Motorola Asia-Pacific spokeswoman Mary Lamb said that the company is undertaking a search for a permanent president. Chen’s departure came as a bit of a surprise but the company already has a leadership search team in place, Lamb said.

Chen had been chairman and president of MCEL for about three years, according to Lamb.

In a statement released Monday, Chen said that he was excited about the future of the software market in China and that he believed it would become one of the country’s most important industries.

Chen is due to take his post on Sept. 1. Until then, he will work with Microsoft’s China management teams to prepare for the transition.