Microsoft Release: Company Reorganization

Microsoft Improves Business Agility with Company Reorganisation Ross Peat Appointed to Head New Zealand Sales and Marketing Teams

Auckland, New Zealand - Thursday, February 22, 2001 - Microsoft New Zealand has reorganised its senior management team to accommodate the recent growth of the company. The reorganisation accommodates the increasing activity in the Enterprise Services group and will also open up more career opportunities for local staff.

"The expansion of our business over the past two years and the success of our Enterprise Services consulting arm under our Practice Manager, Trevor Crawford, both reflect our increasing focus on delivering integrated solutions to New Zealand organisations," says Geoff Lawrie, Managing Director of Microsoft New Zealand.

"The reorganisation allows us to continue to improve the creation and delivery of these integrated solutions. At the same time, it enables us to provide exciting opportunities for individuals to progress in the business," he says.

As part of the reorganisation, Microsoft New Zealand's former Corporate Marketing Manager, Ross Peat, has been promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing. He will report directly to Geoff Lawrie. All Microsoft's sales and marketing teams, which previously reported to Geoff Lawrie, will now report to Ross Peat. Microsoft's Consulting Team - Enterprise Services, Product Support Services, Financial and Administration and Human Resources will continue to report directly to Geoff Lawrie.

The teams reporting to Ross Peat include the Enterprise Sales Team headed by Chris Thodey; the Business Solutions Group headed by Terry Allen; the Channel and Small and Medium Business Group headed by Alex Morcom; and the Online Solutions Group headed by Paul Muckleston.

"The depth of Ross' market understanding has contributed to making Microsoft New Zealand a stronger, more mature and customer-centric company," says Geoff Lawrie. "This new structure allows our sales and marketing teams to benefit directly from the experience and strategic focus that Ross can provide, while allowing me to concentrate on the long-term growth and direction of our overall business in New Zealand."

"Microsoft is very well positioned for growth," says Ross Peat. "We have got an incredible year of new product and service launches ahead of us and we are focusing on delivering greater business agility to our customers with new technology solutions."

"I am excited about working even more closely with my colleagues on the management team, to fine tune business processes and drive growth opportunities in our core business sectors as well as in emerging technologies and services."

As part of the new structure, Microsoft New Zealand has also appointed two women - Bridget Reeves, Business Productivity Marketing Manager, and Carol Leishman, Communications Manager - to the Microsoft New Zealand Management Team.

About Microsoft Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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