Microsoft VP leaving post

NEW YORK: Microsoft Corp senior vice president, Joachim Kempin, is stepping

down from his high-profile job managing Microsoft's relations with computer

makers, the Wall Street Journal reported in its electronic edition on Monday.

Kempin played a role in the software company's landmark antitrust trial, the

paper noted.

Kempin, a 17-year Microsoft veteran, will move this summer into a job

overseeing "special projects" for Microsoft Chief Executive Steve

Ballmer, company officials were reported as saying.

Richard Roy, general manager of the company's German subsidiary, will replace

Kempin, the paper said.

Roy won't take on his new responsibilities until July 1, the start of

Microsoft's fiscal year, it added.

The reassignments were announced inside the Redmond, Wash.-based company a

few weeks ago in an internal memo, the paper said.

Shares of Microsoft plunged 12 percent last Friday, a day after the company

issued a rare profit warning. The shares lost $6-5/16 to close at $49-3/16 on

the Nasdaq. The stock has a 52-week high of $119-15/16 and a 52-week low of

$47-3/4.

(C) Reuters Limited 2000.