Microsoft Is Quick to Name New Marketing Head

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Microsoft announced its new head of marketing today, Chris Capossela, less than a week after longtime executive Mich Matthews said she was leaving it. Capossela's technical title is SVP of the consumer channels and central marketing group, but he also assumes the more familiar position of chief marketing officer.

Matthews, a 22-year veteran of Microsoft, said she will vacate the role sometime this summer, leading many to believe the company would take its time finding a replacement. But Capossela had recently left his post as SVP of the Microsoft Business division, and was presumably available now. In a release, the company said the two would work together through the summer.

Microsoft has also taken the opportunity to merge the Consumer Channels and Central Marketing Group functions under a single leader, which brings its retail, mobile operator and distribution teams into one organization. Capossela will report to COO Kevin Turner.

Capossela has been with Microsoft for 20 years. In his most recent position he was responsible for marketing the Redmond, WA-based company's productivity products (Office, Exchange, Visio, etc.), which put him in charge of the launches for Office 2007 and 2010. Before that he'd served in a number of marketing and technical positions at Microsoft, including a stint as Bill Gates' "speech assistant."