ACADEMIA
Microsoft Hires Robert Youngjohns to Lead North America Sales & Marketing
Microsoft has announced the appointment of Robert Youngjohns to the role of president, North America Sales & Marketing, and corporate vice president of Microsoft. Youngjohns, 56, will manage an 8,500-person sales force, a major contributor to Microsoft’s revenue, which totaled more than $51 billion in fiscal year 2007. Youngjohns will officially assume his new role at Microsoft on Dec. 3. 
A respected business technology leader, Youngjohns brings more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and strategic business development. Most recently, Youngjohns served as president and chief executive officer of Callidus Software Inc., a publicly traded company and a leading provider of sales performance management software based in San Jose, Calif. Before joining Callidus, Youngjohns spent 10 years at Sun Microsystems Inc. in a series of leadership positions, including executive vice president of Global Sales. Youngjohns also spent 18 years in various roles at IBM Corp. “We are excited to welcome Robert to our team,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “His deep background and expertise in the technology sector and his dedication to customers are tremendous assets for his new role as head of our highly specialized and successful North America sales and marketing organization.” “Together with its partners, Microsoft is a world-class selling organization, and I look forward to continuing to build on this success in my new role,” Youngjohns said. “There are very few places that offer the chance to work across such a broad range of technologies. It is a tremendous opportunity, and I am excited to work with this team and with Microsoft’s customers and partners.”
A respected business technology leader, Youngjohns brings more than 30 years of experience in sales, marketing and strategic business development. Most recently, Youngjohns served as president and chief executive officer of Callidus Software Inc., a publicly traded company and a leading provider of sales performance management software based in San Jose, Calif. Before joining Callidus, Youngjohns spent 10 years at Sun Microsystems Inc. in a series of leadership positions, including executive vice president of Global Sales. Youngjohns also spent 18 years in various roles at IBM Corp. “We are excited to welcome Robert to our team,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “His deep background and expertise in the technology sector and his dedication to customers are tremendous assets for his new role as head of our highly specialized and successful North America sales and marketing organization.” “Together with its partners, Microsoft is a world-class selling organization, and I look forward to continuing to build on this success in my new role,” Youngjohns said. “There are very few places that offer the chance to work across such a broad range of technologies. It is a tremendous opportunity, and I am excited to work with this team and with Microsoft’s customers and partners.”