Microsoft channel chief, marketing honcho trade places

It's that time of year: Just before the start of Microsoft's new fiscal year (which commences on July 1). That means it's time to play musical executive chairs.

On June 24, Microsoft announced the first of what I'm betting will be several org-chart changers to come over the next few weeks. Longtime Microsoft partner head, Corporate Vice President Allison Watson, is moving over to become the head of Microsoft's U.S. Business & Marketing Organization (BMO). And the head of BMO, Corporate Vice President Jon Roskill, is taking Watson's job, heading up Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Group.

Microsoft is making the announcement about three weeks before the kick off of its Worldwide Partner Conference -- which is happening this year in Washington, DC, starting July 11. The WPC is where thousands of Microsoft resellers, systems integrators, OEMs, and ISVs, among others, convene annually to hear about the company's sales and product strategies.

Roskill will report to Vahé Torossian, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partners (SMS&P) Group, who was recently appointed to that post. Watson, who has headed the partner organization since 2002, will report to Robert Youngjohns, senior vice president of North America Sales & Marketing.

The pair both assume their new jobs starting July 1.