[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Laura K. Ipsen is joining Microsoft as corporate vice president of the company’s Worldwide Public Sector organization. She will lead the company’s sales and marketing organization serving government, public safety and national security, education, and nonprivatized healthcare customers in more than 100 countries. She will report to Susan Hauser, corporate vice president of the Worldwide Enterprise & Partner Group.

Ms. Ipsen joins Microsoft from Cisco Systems, where she most recently served as senior vice president and general manager of Connected Energy Networks, and previously she established and managed the company’s Global Policy and Government Affairs division.

Before joining Cisco in 1995, Ms. Ipsen worked in government affairs and international trade for Hitachi Data Systems, Acer and PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is currently a board member of Monsanto and of the GridWise Alliance, and previously served as board chair of both the Information Technology Industry Council and the Organization of Women in International Trade.