Changes at the top for Microsoft UK

Microsoft has made two significant changes to its Xbox UK senior management team.

Neil Thompson – former regional Xbox director for Northern Europe – has been promoted to lead Microsoft’s new Consumer Channels Group (CCG).

The group unites all of Microsoft’s physical consumer products, which includes Windows PCs, Windows Phones and Xbox 360 into one organisation.CCG will handle sales and marketing through retailers, device partners (or OEMS), mobile operators, Telecom companies and Microsoft’s own online outlet.

Thompson has been working at Microsoft for 19 years and has held several senior marketing roles at the firm for the UK and EMEA regions.

Returning to Xbox UK to replace Thompson is Jonathan Grimes. Grimes previously worked in sales for Xbox UK, but departed in 2009 to look after the firm’s emerging markets business.

In his new role as retail sales and marketing director for Microsoft UK, Grimes will look after Xbox 360, mice, keyboards and webcams. He joined Microsoft in 1996 having previously worked as a buyer at retail and will be focusing on driving business across the retail channel.

The changes have taken place at a key point for Xbox as it looks to become the No.1 games platform across Europe. Its first big release of the year, Gears of War 3, arrives on September 20th. Other titles include Forza 4, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary as well as key Kinect titles Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports 2.