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Kempin is latest Microsoft executive to shift gears

By Bloomberg News
December 18, 2000, 4:05 a.m. PT

NEW YORK--Microsoft senior vice president Joachim Kempin, who played a part in the company's antitrust trial, is stepping down from the job of managing the No. 1 software maker's relations with computer companies, according to a report.

The 17-year veteran of Microsoft will begin overseeing special projects for Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer this summer, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed company representatives. He will be replaced on July 1 by Richard Roy, the general manager of Microsoft's German subsidiary, the paper said.

Kempin is the latest in a long string of top executives to depart Microsoft in recent years. In September vice president Paul Maritz, a 14-year veteran of the company, announced his retirement.

Maritz's departure came just three months after one of his lieutenants, Tod Nielsen, left after 12 years with the company.

Earlier this year, vice president Jim Allchin, who currently heads the Platform Products Group at Microsoft, took an extended leave. In May, Nathan Myhrvold, the company's chief technology officer, said he would not return after his yearlong sabbatical, leaving Microsoft after 14 years.

The list of departures also includes Greg Maffei, Microsoft's chief financial officer, who left in December; Internet executive Pete Higgins; and Brad Silverberg, former senior vice president for applications, who departed after an extended leave.

Kempin's and Roy's position changes were announced within the Redmond, Wash.-based software company a few weeks ago in a memo circulated by Orlando Ayala, the head of worldwide sales and marketing, the paper reported. Roy, who will report to Ayala, will oversee sales of software to personal computer makers.

Kempin, who now performs that job, was questioned last year by government lawyers about whether Microsoft punished personal computer makers who gave high-profile placement of rival software on their machines, the Journal said.

News.com's Mike Ricciuti contributed to this report.