Kiwi to drive global Microsoft Surface channel plans

Paul Muckleston, Microsoft's former New Zealand managing director, will be driving the company's channel for its Surface devices – from Seattle.

The Kiwi has been appointed as Microsoft's general manager for worldwide Surface channel sales, as the company opens up its channel distribution for Surface.

The new role will see Muckleston responsible for leading the Surface and Surface Hub commercial channel sales organisation and the globally distributed channel sales teams for the devices business, based out of Microsoft's Redmond headquarter.

Microsoft says Muckleston's key focus will be channel development, sales strategy and execution, including launch, development and landing of the Surface commercial channel expansion plan and Surface Hub, Microsoft's recently announced conference room solution for improving collaboration and productivity.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it was opening up distribution to enable more resellers to sell Surface – more than two years after the devices were first launched.

The company admitted it has had a 'somewhat limited' business channel for Surface and said it was expanding its channel from 'a few hundred partners selling and servicing Surface to a few thousand globally in the coming months'.

The vendor says the expansion is based on Microsoft's optimism for 'much broader success that will come with the release of Windows 10'.

Muckleston, who has been with Microsoft for nearly 19 years including the last five years as New Zealand managing director, says he's excited by the opportunity to move to Redmond.

"Accelerating the growth and impact of Surface in commercial, and launching and scaling Surface Hub as a new category for Microsoft globally is a privilege," he says.

"I've seen first-hand how Surface is a proof-point for the reinvention of Microsoft – we're just getting started.

Returning Kiwi ex-pat Barrie Sheers is taking over the New Zealand managing director position, with Muckleston remaining in New Zealand for the next six to eight weeks to implement a planned and structured transition from his leadership to Sheers.