REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 18, 2002 — Microsoft Corp.’s Macintosh Business Unit (MacBU) today announced that Roz Ho was named general manager of the Macintosh Business Unit, which develops cutting-edge software and online products for the Macintosh platform.
Ho is an 11-year Microsoft®
veteran. She spent the past three years as the product unit manager leading the MacBU’s Silicon Valley team. She now will champion the strategic vision and direction for all Microsoft software and online products developed by the MacBU, manage Microsoft’s business relationship with Apple Computer Inc., and lead the largest team of Mac-focused developers outside of Apple.
“This is a very exciting time for the Macintosh Business Unit, and we are very pleased to have Roz take on an elevated role,”
said Lisa Brummel, corporate vice president of the Home Retail Division at Microsoft.
“Roz is the ideal candidate to head the MacBU: She has strong leadership capabilities, proven experience developing great software technology for both the Mac and Windows® platforms, and a keen sense of Mac customers’ needs.”
Ho will lead a committed team of approximately 150 full-time Mac product experts, who have been highly successful in offering award-winning products specifically designed for users of Macs. In the past year alone, the MacBU introduced a $199 Office v. X promotion with Apple, a service release for Microsoft Office v. X for Mac, MSN®
Messenger Service 3.0 for Mac, Palm handheld synchronization for the Entourage (TM) X e-mail and personal information manager, and the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client. In addition, MacBU unveiled its plans to deliver MSN for Mac OS X in early 2003.
“The Macintosh Business Unit is made up of some of Microsoft’s most talented thinkers and developers,”
Ho said.
“I’m excited to continue working with my team to extend that innovation and create the most compelling Mac computing experiences in the industry.”
Before her appointment to general manager, Ho was responsible for product development, management and testing for Entourage, Outlook® Express, PowerPoint®
, Internet Explorer and MSN for Mac OS X. Ho joined the Macintosh Business Unit in 2000 and was previously a program manager for Microsoft PowerPoint and OfficeArt. In that role she was responsible for defining product vision, designing and writing specifications for product features, and managing overall project dependencies. Under Ho’s leadership, PowerPoint received dozens of patents and numerous industry awards, including Macworld’s World Class Award for Best Presentations Software. Ho joined Microsoft in 1991.
About Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit
The Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit is a leading developer of software and online products for the Macintosh platform. With the largest Mac-focused development team outside Apple Computer Inc., the MacBU consists of approximately 150 full-time Mac product experts. Committed to the Macintosh platform since 1997, the MacBU delivers award-winning products developed specifically to meet the unique needs of Mac users. Current products include Microsoft Office v. X for Mac, a productivity suite that includes the Entourage X e-mail and personal information manager, Word X, Excel X and PowerPoint X; Internet Explorer 5.2 for Mac; and MSN Messenger Service 3.0 for Mac. More information about the MacBU and Microsoft Macintosh products is available at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Windows, MSN, Entourage, Outlook and PowerPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Apple, Mac and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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