Microsoft Worldwide Public Sector Chief is out

Linda Zecher, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Public Sector, is leaving Microsoft to become the CEO of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Zecher became the Worldwide Public Sector chief at Microsoft in January 2009. She joined Microsoft in 2003. As head of Worldwide Public Sector, she led a team of more than 1,900 sales and marketing staff in the government, education and non-privatized healthcare segments.

Zecher's departure was announced internally at Microsoft today, September 6, according to one of my readers.

At the very end of August, following the resignation of Enterprise Sales Chief Simon Witts, Zecher was set to begin reporting directly to Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner, according to an e-mail sent by Turner to Microsoft.

I've asked Microsoft as to its plans to replace Zecher. No word back so far.

Update: A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed Zecher's last day at Microsoft is September 15. The spokesperson said a search is on for her replacement. I'm hearing Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector Education, will lead Worldwide Public Sector until that happens, but Microsoft officials wouldn't comment on that. Salcito is on the board of Zecher's new employer, Houghton Mifflin.

How to interpret the revolving door in Microsoft's Enterprise and Partner Group,( as of late? Some say the latest vesting of stock options as of September 1 may be a contributing factor. I hear Zecher's departure is a lot more amicable than the mutually agreed upon resignation of Witts. Anyone else have more information to share?