Johannesburg, 16 Aug 2007
Microsoft SA confirms Hennie Loubser, its enterprise and partner group director, and Belinda Godfrey, small and mid-market solutions and partner group director, will soon leave the software vendor's local operation.
The imminent departures bring to six the number of senior executives to leave in the last year. This excludes former MD Gordon Fraser's move to Microsoft's UK operation in July last year.
While Godfrey leaves the company to "pursue personal interests", Loubser is understood to be heading to Microsoft's headquarters in Redmond.
Their departures follow the exits of developer and platform group director Danny Naidoo, Windows group manager Jonathan Hatchuel, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manager Goona Sagaren Udayan, and regional director of OEM for the Middle East and Africa region Bradley Hopkinson.
However, Microsoft SA COO Heather Third says the moves are not a cause for concern.
"We've had a few changes lately, with several of our top people leaving to pursue new opportunities, but it's business as usual. The resignations had been an opportunity to both bring new talent through the ranks and to introduce new ideas from outside, where necessary," she says.
Skill supplies
Third admits the company's employees are sometimes a target for industry recruitment.
"Highly skilled leadership is in short supply, both locally and internationally, and we're always a target. But Microsoft proactively works on succession planning and has high potential talent awareness and grooming.
"Our positioning in the 'Best Companies to Work For' surveys, declining attrition rates and high people satisfaction scores are reflective of this," she explains.
Third adds: "We have always encouraged our people to pursue opportunities, both internally and externally. In each of the above cases, the decision was taken as part of a continuous discussion on career, work and life opportunities.
"These people have left to pursue wonderful new opportunities, and do so with Microsoft's best wishes."
New talent
Meanwhile, Microsoft SA says it is making progress in filling its vacancies.
These include David Ives as DPE director, Reggie Nxumalo as OEM director, Colin Erasmus as Windows Client executive, and this week's naming of industry veteran Henry Ferreira to head Microsoft's Enterprise and Partners Group.
"Under current MD Pfungwa Serima, we have an inspired and committed management team who feel they are on the right path, and right now we'll take just about anything in our stride," concludes Third.
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