The Microsoft Memos on Outgoing Marketing Chief Mich Mathews: ‘I Started Here When Microsoft Was the New, New Thing’

with our customer base that has grown from millions when she started to over one billion consumers around the world today who enjoy our products. I speak for Steveb and myself in saying that her strong, passionate and steady voice will be missed as we chart Microsoft’s future.

At my request, Mich will stay through the summer, reporting to me, and assisting in her transition. Please join me in thanking Mich for her stellar results and deep loyalty to our company for the last 22 years. I’ve enjoyed working with and learning from her, and wish her every success in her next chapter.

Kevin Turner

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From: Mich Mathews
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 6:40 PM
To: All FTE Worldwide Marketers; Central Marketing Group
Subject: RE: Announcement

And so………

….after more than two decades here at Microsoft I decided it was time for me to try some new things and so with regret I will leave the company at the end of the summer to chart a different course for myself.

There is never a good time to make a change, but with some great recent successes like Windows 7, Bing and Kinect I believe the marketing of Microsoft has reached new heights in what it can accomplish. I have every confidence that the next team will build on that momentum and make us even more effective.

I started here when Microsoft was the new, new thing and saw the company grow from its early success to the major global force in technology it is today. As we grew the marketing communications function to match the growth and changes in the business, my goal was always to show how people armed with great products could realize their passions in life.

And so Microsoft has also helped me realize my passion for communications and gave me responsibilities at an early age most could only dream of having. It is a great company with great leadership.

I wish to thank all of you who have worked with me so hard and so tirelessly. And those that have made doing what we do so much damn fun. You are a tremendous group of talented people driven to succeed.

I’m around for the next several months helping with the transition and look forward to thanking and saying goodbye to as many of you in person as I can.

Mich

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Author: Curt Woodward

Curt covered technology and innovation in the Boston area for Xconomy. He previously worked in Xconomy’s Seattle bureau and continued some coverage of Seattle-area tech companies, including Amazon and Microsoft. Curt joined Xconomy in February 2011 after nearly nine years with The Associated Press, the world's largest news organization. He worked in three states and covered a wide variety of beats for the AP, including business, law, politics, government, and general mayhem. A native Washingtonian, Curt earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. As a past president of the state's Capitol Correspondents Association, he led efforts to expand statehouse press credentialing to online news outlets for the first time.