Microsoft kicks local MD upstairs

Beverley Head
Friday, 03 December 2010 10:50

IT People - People

Tracey Fellows, managing director of Microsoft's Australian subsidiary is being kicked upstairs - relocating to Singapore to take up the role as area vice president for Asia Pacific. She will continue to act as country general manager until her replacement is appointed.

Ms Fellows will succeed Emilio Umeoka, who is leaving Microsoft in late December, and report to Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International.

'The Asia Pacific region is incredibly diverse and dynamic,' Ms Fellows said in a prepared statement. 'It is also a place where we can do much to deliver on our mission to make technology available to the next generation of users, and I am keen to make the most of the opportunity to work with our partners and governments around the region to deliver on that commitment.

Canadian by birth Ms Fellows moved to Australia as a schoolgirl, and joined Microsoft in 2003. She was appointed managing director in 2007 - only the second female managing director Microsoft has had in Australia. The first was Linda Graham, who set up Microsoft's Australian operations in 1983.

'I am passionate about education and the role that technology can play in developing skills and improving learning, as well as advancing the role of women in the IT industry,' said Ms Fellows. 'We have a track record supporting these goals, and I am keen to ensure we build on these very strong foundations.'

In her new role she will have oversight of subsidiaries in Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.  A key part of her role will be drive demand for Microsoft's cloud computing services which are provided regionally out of Singapore.

It has been on her watch that Microsoft has already become a significant cloud computing player, and also negotiated a cloud services arrangement with Telstra.

Ms Fellows takes on the new role from 22 December 2010. According to a spokeswoman for the company she is currently finalizing a decision on who will be appointed as her replacement locally.