Updated: Microsoft's Marlow swaps channel for public sector

Microsoft partner and SMB director, Pip Marlow, is exiting her post to head up the software giant's public sector team. She replaces current public sector director, Nigel Cadywould, who is expected to be relocated to another division.

Marlow has been with Microsoft for 12 years, initially starting in Australia before heading to the US in 1997. She returned in 2004 as SMB director before also picking up the partner director's role 18 months ago.

Marlow took the channel reins from Kerstin Baxter, who also moved into Microsoft's public sector division before leaving and joining Hitachi Data Systems' channel team in June last year.

Marlow will now be responsible for directing the vendor's public sector business in conjunction with its partner base, Microsoft managing director, Tracey Fellows, said in a statement. Fellows singled out her strong leadership and customer relationship skills as great attributes for its public sector business.

"I've been having ongoing discussions around further rounding out my skill set and this opportunity arose," Marlow said. She will continue leading the SMB and partner divisions until a replacement is found.

Marlow said she had enjoyed her time in the SMB and partner director's role and singled out the evolution of Microsoft's partner programs as a highlight.

"There's so many things that I've got to do in this role. I think we've done great things with our partner program in building strong relationships. And with things like the partner portal and the Action Pack [product and marketing initiative], we have built a scaleable program to support the smaller partners in their growth," she said.

In the new role, the first point of focus will be to understand public sector customer needs, Marlow said.

"There's a lot of change with the Rudd Government around health and plans for an education revolution and there's some great opportunities there," she said. "We also have a contracted labor market - the way software can help productivity issues will be a big opportunity."