A Doug-less Microsoft Partner Conference?

It's that time of year for Microsoft's worldwide partner conference but there's nary an official sign of Doug Burgum, the senior vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions and a fixture at these events for the last five years or so.

Word is Doug will be there, but he won't be keynoting—at least according to the official tally. No listed speeches. Nada.

Folks used to like playing the "Where's Orlando?" game at these events after no-shows by Orlando Ayala, the then-COO of MBS. Now everyone knows where Ayala's headed—into a new emerging segments role--but what about Burgum?

Last year Burgum and Co. launched a public search for a successor for him and they had hoped to have one picked by now. When that happens, the plan is for Burgum is step into a new role. Some partners wonder if that plan is no longer operable.

In a recent interview, Burgum said he'd be at WWPC but not in a keynote capacity.

Still partners would like to see him continue his very public role and will be looking for him in Boston.

More Partner M&A To Come?

Look for some more Microsoft partner moving and shaking on the M&A front soon. Word has it that a big non US partner is looking to bulk up its presence both in the U.S. geography and in managed services overall and is about to make a buy toward that end.