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Maritz Retires After 14 Years at Microsoft

Paul Maritz, group vice president of the Platforms Strategy and Developer Group at Microsoft Corp., is retiring after 14 years with the company and 22 years in the high-tech industry. Maritz will continue to serve as a consultant to Microsoft on strategic and business issues.

Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) Vice President Sanjay Parthasarathy, who formerly reported to Maritz, has been appointed to a new developer evangelism and business development role, and will report directly to president and CEO Steve Ballmer.

As group vice president of the Platforms Strategy and Developer Group, Maritz has been responsible for overall platforms strategy, product planning, and business development for the development of Microsoft's tools and related platform technologies. In addition, Maritz has been responsible for working with developers and providing them with the tools and support they need to further Microsoft's .NET initiative.

Previously, Maritz managed the company's efforts for Microsoft Windows and Office. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team and the Business Leadership Team, Maritz has played an important role in helping guide Microsoft's strategy and business planning over the years.

"Paul is truly a leader among leaders, and it has been a privilege to work alongside such an intelligent, wise, honest, and wonderful human being for so many years," said Ballmer.

"Paul's vision and technological insight has had a major impact not only on Microsoft but on the entire computer industry," said Bill Gates, Microsoft chairman and chief software architect.

In addition to Maritz's retirement and Parthasarathy's new role, Yuval Neeman will continue as vice president of the Developer Division, reporting to Group Vice President Jim Allchin. Mike Nash, vice president of the Content Development and Delivery Group, which includes the MSDN developer program, also will report to Allchin. Chris Atkinson, vice president for .NET Developer Solutions, will report to Senior Vice President Paul Flessner. Charles Stevens, vice president of the Business Solutions Group, will continue to oversee Microsoft's relationships with ISVs. - Isaac Slepner

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.