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Microsoft's top exec shifted to sales

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CIOL Bureau
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REDMOND, Washington: Microsoft said its No. 3 executive and head of sales, Orlando Ayala, will take charge of the company's high-stakes push to sell more software to small and medium-sized businesses. Such firms increasingly using computers to track everything from sales contacts and customer information to payroll and accounting.



Microsoft said Ayala will head a new global sales and marketing group targeting small and medium-sized businesses that will be backed by a $2 billion investment.



"Microsoft is making a total investment of over $2 billion in product development, partner readiness and sales resources to help small and mid-market customers realize their full potential and transform the way they do business," a Microsoft spokesman told Reuters.

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At stake is a fragmented market also targeted by other software heavyweights such as Oracle Corp. and Siebel Systems Inc. Microsoft is betting that market will be worth $10 billion in annual business by 2010.Microsoft has made its push into the business software niche as the growth of its market-dominating Windows operating software has slowed along with global PC sales.

Ayala, who currently reports directly to Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, is a Microsoft veteran of 12 years. Microsoft did not confirm whether he would continue to report to Ballmer in his new role.

Microsoft had been beefing up its sales staff, and said in January that it was hiring 1,500 staff to promote its programs directly to corporate customers -- a break from its traditional reliance on resellers, original equipment manufacturers and retailers.

Microsoft said last July that it would boost its staffing by 10 percent to about 55,000 employees by June 2003, the end of its current fiscal year.

The new sales effort targeted at smaller businesses will aim at selling software from Microsoft's fledgling Business Solutions division as well as the newest versions of its Office and Windows Server products due out later this year, the Redmond, Washington-based company said.

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