[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Thom Gruhler is joining Microsoft as corporate vice president of Windows Phone Marketing. Mr. Gruhler, 42, joins Microsoft from McCann Worldgroup, where he served as global managing partner of Telecom & Technology. Before that, Mr. Gruhler served eight years as the global leader of McCann’s Verizon business.

“I’m excited to be joining an outstanding team at Windows Phone that has built an amazing product, which is starting to turn heads in a very competitive market,” Gruhler said. “When you put a Windows Phone into someone’s hands they love it, which is the ideal place to start as a marketer. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build consumer awareness and excitement for Windows Phone products and the overall brand.”

At Microsoft, Gruhler will lead all advertising, marketing and communications activities for the Windows Phone Division and will work closely with product engineering teams and telecommunications partners to create greater awareness and customer demand for Windows Phone devices, software and services.

Before his tenure at McCann, Gruhler managed global brands such as Barclays, DaimlerChrysler, HP, Hilton and Salomon Smith Barney at other agencies within the Interpublic Group, the holding company parent of McCann Worldwide.