We’ve been tracking what seems to be something of a confused state of affairs over in Redmond over the last few months, and now have to add another name to the list of changes: the guy who had been heading up MSFT’s marketing efforts around Office, Exchange, SharePoint and some other business products.
The main in question is chap called Chris Capossela, who has been unexpectedly replaced by another Microsoftie, Kirk Koenigsbauer.
But Capossela hasn’t been given his P45 – or pink-slipped, as our American cousins put it. Instead, he’s been sent back to the Ballmer equivalent of the bench to await being slotted into an as yet unspecified "leadership" position. Nothing’s clear yet – an internal memo has been circulated that tells staffers that Capossela is "staying with the company, and his next leadership role here at Microsoft will be forthcoming".
As the fellow has 20 years track record in Big Green, we have to wonder if Ballmer hasn’t taken him out of general population to plug him into one of the really big open slots he has in his leadership team, given recent departures and changes.
Or… is this a conspiracy move too far: could he be being lined up to play some kind of significant role making all this alleged vast ($1bn?) investment pay off Ballmer’s green-lighted to go into the Nokia alliance?
The US business press certainly thinks that the company is putting some serious wood behind its Nokia arrow here as a sweetener to promote and develop Windows-based handsets as part of their smartphone software agreement.
The unconfirmed reports suggest Nokia will pay Microsoft a fee for each copy of Windows it deploys in one of its handsets, to be offset against cuts in that firm’s own R&D outlay, possibly for as long as up to five years.
According to both parties, nonetheless, the deal adds value to both parties and will deliver proper money to both their bottom lines; whether it will make Nokia phones cool again and really solidify a place in the ecosystem for Windows 7, remains to be seen.
As is public record, Ballmer was battered by his board recently for falling behind on mobile vis a vis Apple and Android (Google), so the Nokia deal has got to be his best way to deep shock that business back into life. And as Office is a part of the business no-one can say hasn’t been well-run – step forward Mr Capossela to make it all better for Steve-o?
Possibly – but then, it’s not like there aren’t other parts of the MSFT empire that couldn’t do with a bit of TLC as well. It also has to be said that great as he is, Chris isn’t the really super-heavy tech that Ballmer was reported to be trying to give more leadership responsibility to at the top of the company.
Still, the Nokia deal is interesting and what Ballmer’s doing with management changes can’t but help to attract interest. We’ll continue to watch this space – as we’re sure, so will you.
