Thanks Joris for this one, Microsoft has appointed a senior executive to a new position in Europe to improve relationships with governments across the continent, a move apparently designed to counter interest in open source software there.
Jonathan Murray has been appointed "national technology officer" and will be based in Zurich. Until about two weeks ago he oversaw sales to Microsoft"s top 50 business customers as vice president of global accounts, a group he helped create in early 2000.
The new job is part sales and part evangelism, Murray will be "building better relationships in the public sector across Europe," a Microsoft spokeswoman said Friday. Peter Moore, chief technology officer and general manager of technical sales, plays a similar role in Asia, she said.