Microsoft names global public sector chief

Linda Zecher will lead worldwide public sector sales and marketing team.

Linda Zecher was named today as corporate vice president of Microsoft Worldwide Public Sector.

In her new role, Zecher will lead 1,900 sales and marketing people work in the government, education and non-commercial health-care markets. Zecher replaces Gerri Elliott, who left Microsoft in late 2008.

Zecher will report to Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International.

Before her promotion, Zecher was vice president of public sector for the Americas and Asia Pacific and led the U.S. public sector business from 2003 to 2008.

“With years of experience working in close partnership with public sector organizations, Linda fully understands how the strategic use of technology can help drive efficiencies in government, empower citizens and stimulate economic growth,” Courtois said in a statement.

Before joining Microsoft in 2003, Zecher held managerial and leadership roles at Texas Instruments Inc. and Bank of America NA.

She also was the ninth employee of PeopleSoft Inc. and as the company’s vice president of sales and marketing, she helped increase that business m $500,000 in annual revenue to $35 million in three years.