REDMOND, Wash.-Microsoft Corp. announced it hired on an AT&T Wireless Services Inc. marketing executive to head the release of its new “Longhorn” desktop computer operating system. Michael Sievert previously worked as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for AT&T Wireless and before that as executive vice president and chief global marketing and sales officer at E*trade Financial Corp.
Sievert was twice named by Advertising Age as one of the 25 most influential people in marketing.
“Mike brings to the Windows product management team broad industry experience and deep insight into driving marketing excellence,” said Will Poole, senior vice president for the Windows Client Business at Microsoft. “Mike’s experience communicating the value of technology and services to a broad customer base-building E*trade into a billion-dollar business around the world and leading one of the largest and most complex marketing and sales operations in the United States at AT&T Wireless-will be invaluable to Microsoft’s long-term efforts to grow the Windows ecosystem and to deliver ‘Longhorn’ in 2006.”
Sievert will take over from Tom Button, who has been on a leave of absence due to family medical reasons. Button is expected to return to Microsoft in a different capacity.
