Microsoft Canada’s president, Max Long is leaving his post to become vice president of the services business in the Americas for the Redmond, Wash-based computer company.
A spokesperson for Microsoft said Long’s last day at Microsoft Canada will be September 30.
Long is leaving Canada for family reasons, according to reports received earlier this week, by Computer Dealer News, a sister publication on ITWorldCanada.com.
The British-born executive plans to reunite with his family in the United States, where he has a son who wants to complete high school in the greater Seattle area.
In a statement to CDN, Long said he enjoyed working with Microsoft’s Canadian customers and partners and he is glad that his “new role leading the Americas business means I can stay engage with some key Canadian customers and partners…”
One senior channel leader, however, expressed disappointment that the post of Microsoft Canada president appears to be a revolving door.
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With the departure of Long, industry watchers are now wondering whether it’s time Microsoft appointed a Canadian to run its operations here.
He said that when Microsoft promoted a Canadian, the company “had stability.” For instance, Malcolm MacTaggert held his post for more than four years, Jeff Dossett ran Microsoft Canada for more than five years and Frank Clegg held the helm for two terms that lasted 11 years.
CDN’s assistant editor Jeff Jedras, also came up with a slideshow featuring 10 Canadians could fit the bill as Microsoft Canada’s next president.
Click here, to find out if your choice is among them.