News

SQL Server Stalwart to Leave Microsoft

• By Stuart J Johnston
• November 2, 2006

Long-time stalwart of Microsoft's database business, Paul Flessner, will step down as senior vice president of the Data Storage and Platform Division as of Jan. 1, the company confirmed this week.

However, at least for a while, Flessner will continue with Microsoft on a part-time basis, driving projects within the Platform Services Division, according to an e-mail from a company spokesperson. The move is intended to enable Flessner to spend time on “personal endeavors.”

In the new year, Flessner will be replaced by Ted Kummert, corporate vice president, currently leading the Security, Access and Solutions Division. The news broke Tuesday in an internal memo from Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Microsoft's Server and Tools Business.

Flessner joined Microsoft in 1994 as a program manager for enterprise computing, and was later promoted to general manager and then vice president for SQL Server. He is credited with helping to make SQL Server into the enterprise powerhouse that it is today. He most recently led the SQL Server 2005 development effort.

Kummert, meanwhile, has been with Microsoft since 1989 and was corporate vice president of the Business Process and Integration (BPI) Division, where he was responsible for Microsoft's BPI products, including Microsoft BizTalk Server, Commerce Server and Host Integration Server.

Flessner is scheduled to give a keynote address at Microsoft's SQL PASS conference in Seattle in mid-November.