[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Microsoft has made several changes to the leadership team of Microsoft International, including changes to the top leaders in Microsoft Greater China Region (GCR), Microsoft United Kingdom (U.K.) and Microsoft Germany.

Ralph Haupter, currently serving as area vice president (AVP) for Microsoft Germany, has been promoted to corporate vice president and named CEO for Microsoft GCR. Mr. Haupter is replacing Simon Leung who has decided to leave Microsoft for personal and family reasons, says the company. Gordon Frazer, currently serving as managing director (MD) for Microsoft U.K., has been named chief operating officer (COO) for Microsoft GCR. He is replacing Michel van der Bel, who will assume the role of MD for Microsoft U.K. Mr. Haupter and Mr. van der Bel will report to Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, and Mr. Frazer will report to Mr. Haupter.

Jean-Philippe Courtois (President, Microsoft International): China represents an unprecedented opportunity for growth across the breadth of our business.

Mr. Haupter is a seven-year veteran of Microsoft. He previously served as head of the partner division for Europe, Middle East and Africa and general manager (GM) of Microsoft’s Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partners Group for Western Europe, both based in Paris, and served as COO for Microsoft Germany before becoming the German AVP. Before that, he worked for IBM both in Germany and internationally. Mr. Frazer is a 16-year veteran of Microsoft, having served as the GM for Microsoft South Africa for four years and most recently as the Microsoft U.K. MD for the past six years. A 13-year veteran of Microsoft, Mr. Van der Bel previously served as COO of Microsoft GCR, as VP of public sector for Microsoft International and as GM of the Netherlands.

Microsoft International comprises all of Microsoft’s operations outside North America. Microsoft GCR comprises the businesses in the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong SAR, and includes deep and ongoing investments across sales, marketing, services, research and development. Microsoft is celebrating its 20th anniversary of operations in China in 2012.