Microsoft Shuffles North American Channel Execs

In the U.S. SMS&P group, Michael Park, current corporate vice president, will assume a new role as corporate vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions Sales, Marketing and Operations. Park joined Microsoft in 2005 after stints at SAP and Siebel, and in May 2006 engineered a shakeup in Microsoft's partner program that saw Robert Deshaies take over for Margo Day as the head of Microsoft's U.S. Partner Group.

Phil Sorgen, who spent the last three-and-a-half years as president of Microsoft Canada, will take Park's place. Eric Gales, who for the past three years has headed up Microsoft Canada's SMS&P Canada operations, will fill Sorgen's vacated post.

Gales previously spent seven years in the United Kingdom as a director in the Microsoft U.K. SMS&P business, and he'll report to Robert Youngjohns, Microsoft corporate vice president and president of Microsoft North America.

Changes are also coming to Microsoft's Worldwide SMS&P group. Birger Steen, current vice president of Microsoft Russia, will take over the role of vice president of Worldwide SMB and Distribution.

Steen has been with Microsoft Russia since 2004 and has worked to raise the profile of the company within that country. In his new role, Steen will report to Eduardo Rosini, Microsoft corporate vice president.

Also reporting to Rosini will be Max Long, who will take over the new Worldwide SMS&P role of vice president of SMS&P Corporate Accounts. In his new role, Long will be tasked with boosting overall customer satisfaction.