MSCRM, Navision Get New GMs

Two recent hires bring new executives to the Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) marketing and strategy organization led by Corporate Vice President Tami Reller. In Jan. 2005, Microsoft announced the hiring of a new general manager, Mogens Elsberg, to lead product management and marketing for Navision, one of Microsoft’s four enterprise resource planning products. Elsberg, formerly the chief executive officer of MBS partner Aston Business Solutions, will report to Reller. Elsberg replaces René Stockner, who has left Microsoft.

In Feb. 2005, Microsoft announced the hiring of ex-PeopleSoft executive Brad Wilson for a new general manager position focusing on strategy and marketing for Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (MSCRM). Wilson, who will also report to Reller, will be responsible for increasing customer adoption of MSCRM and developing new partner opportunities and relationships. Wilson’s hiring was followed by the announcement of plans to delay the release of MSCRM 2.0 until the last quarter of 2005. (For more about the delay, see “Axapta 4.0 and MSCRM 2.0 Delayed“.)