Microsoft ad chief resigns after rejig

Microsoft’s head of UK advertising is leaving the computer giant after a management shake-up.

Janet Kilpatrick, image and communications manager, has resigned following the merger of brand communication, direct marketing, PR and advertising into one division, called marketing services.

The division will be headed by the new director of marketing services Sean Orpen. He was promoted from strategic marketing and planning manager.

The move is part of a series of management promotions at the group. These include Andrew Lees, who moves from desktop product marketing manager to director of desktop products. Earlier this month deputy general manager John Leftwich was also promoted to a top European consumer sales and marketing position .

According to Orpen the changes follow worldwide restructuring at the company last year. They are intended to make marketing more integrated and efficient, he says.

Kilpatrick is on holiday and could not be contacted.