Microsoft Names Day VP, U.S. Partners

Day continues to report to Andy Lees, corporate vice president of U.S. marketing, sales and partners. Her promotion was made official inside the company early last month but was not disclosed publicly at the time.

Several solution providers gave Day high marks for her channel advocacy.

"She exemplifies the channel-friendly, energetic execution of programs, partnerships and initiatives Microsoft really needs to revitalize [its] commitment to partners," said Rand Morimoto, CEO of Convergent Computing, an Oakland, Calif., Microsoft solution provider. "Margo is an exceptional listener and communicator. People put their trust in her and she does not disappoint."

Day is "pretty much Microsoft's public face" to the channel and is well-liked and respected, added Richard Warren, vice president and chief solutions architect at Susquehanna Technologies, a Winchester, Va., solution provider and Microsoft partner.

Day was named general manager for U.S. partners in the spring of 2001, stepping in for Paul Bazley, who handled Microsoft Certified Partners

and service partners, and Bob Clough, who headed the broad-based channel in the SMB group. She and Allison Watson, vice president of worldwide partner sales and marketing, were officially introduced to the channel masses at Fusion 2002 last July. Before joining Microsoft, Day spent several years at Lotus Development.