Microsoft's Watson: It's Just A Vacation

Allison Watson wants partners to know she has no plans to vacate her position as Microsoft's worldwide channel chief after the vendor's annual worldwide partner conference, slated for July 10-11 in Denver.

In May, some sources told CRN that Watson planned to take a six month "sabbatical," but Watson insists that a vacation is her only planned indulgence in the immediate future.

"I love what I do and we are doing some amazing stuff. We're in the middle of a major industry transformation. I have the best job in the company and I am committed to Kevin [Turner, chief operating officer] and Eduardo [Rossini, corporate vice president for worldwide Small & Midmarket Solutions & Partners (SMS&P)]," Watson said.

Watson, corporate vice president of Microsoft's worldwide partner group, said that one of the benefits associated with her position on the Microsoft management team is that she is granted a sabbatical, and she plans to take advantage of that next year.

She characterized her time off after the partner conference as a much-needed vacation during which she will spend time with her family. "I particularly love this job and there is a lot to do," she said, "The whole company is behind this [channel] initiative."

One Microsoft partner expressed indifference at the news. "I think SaaS is the biggest issue looming for Microsoft partners, and that's coming whether Allison Watson is there or not," said the source, who asked not to be named.

"Microsoft is moving into SaaS, and none of the partners are going to like it. But that's a Ballmer decision, not a Watson decision," added the source.

With SaaS, Microsoft is going to host the applications, sell the software, and support it, which isn't going to leave any room for the vendor's channel partners, said the source. "That may not be the case on Day One, but certainly in the long term that's where it will go," the source said.