Microsoft makes more executive moves

Microsoft Corp. Thursday announced more executive shuffling a little more than a month after the company completely overhauled its organizational structure.

Microsoft named Bob Muglia senior vice president of its Server and Tools Business. Muglia will succeed Eric Rudder, who currently holds that position. The company revealed last month that Rudder will be taking on a new role working directly for Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect, after the launch of Visual Studio 2005 on Nov. 7

Muglia currently serves as senior vice president of Microsoft’s Windows Server division. He will report to Jim Allchin, co-president, platform, products & services division, who revealed last month that he would retire at the end of 2006.

Muglia, who has been with Microsoft since 1988, is a member of both the company’s Technical Senior Leadership Team, which is responsible for developing its technical direction, and its Business Leadership Team, which is responsible for broad strategic and business planning.

Microsoft also said Thursday that Sanjay Parthasarathy, corporate vice president, Developer & Platform Evangelism Group, will now report directly to Kevin Johnson, co-president, platform, products & services division. According to Microsoft, this is to allow a broader focus on winning developers across Microsoft’s entire software platform and not just specific to certain products.

Last month Microsoft consolidated seven divisions into three, each one with its own president: the Microsoft Platform Products & Services Division, led by Kevin Johnson and Jim Allchin as co-presidents until Allchin retires at the end of 2006; the Microsoft Business Division, with Jeff Raikes as president; and the Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division, with Robbie Bach as president.

The new Platform Products & Services Group is made up of the former Windows Client, Server and Tools unit and the MSN online services division. The business group consists of the former Microsoft Information Worker group, including Microsoft Office, and the Business Solutions group, which includes CRM (customer relationship management) and ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications. The new entertainment division oversees the development of entertainment and digital devices, such as IPTV (Internet Protocol TV), Xbox and other consumer-oriented digital lifestyle products.