Microsoft Promotes Margo Day, U.S. Partner Chief

In her new capacity, she continues to report to Andy Lees, corporate vice president, U.S. marketing, sales and partners. Her promotion was made official inside the company earlier this month but was not disclosed publicly.

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. Microsoft partner.

Others said Day, who in March at Intel's Solutions Summit faced intense heat from system builders over Microsoft pricing and licensing, deserves combat pay for that stint alone. (see story.)

Day, was named general manager 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 Corp.

A Microsoft spokeswoman, confirming the news, said Day's responsibilities remain pretty much the same. Day's promotion is validation of the work she has already done and confirms Microsoft's commitment to partners, she said.

The news comes at a critical time in Microsoft's channel strategy. In the wake of its acquisitions of Great Plains and Navision, Microsoft is now trying to figure out how to best handle two widely divergent channels,one for the Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) group and one for "classic" Microsoft products. The MBS umbrella, which covers accounting, financial, ERP and supply chain management application sales into small- and mid-sized companies, relies heavily on a specialized resellers with vertical expertise the traditional Microsoft channel tends to be more volume-oriented.

Microsoft executives are now figuring out what internal structures will be needed to handle whatever channel changes will take place. Those inside changes will likely be outlined at Microsoft Global Summit in July. Whatever external channel changes emerge will be the focal point of the first merged Microsoft/MBS channel confab slated to take place in Toronto next October. (See story for more on Microsoft's channel evolution.)