Microsoft has created a new consumer channels division and plonked the company's Office marketing boss in the chair to head up the group.

Chris Capossela is a Redmond veteran, having worked at the software vendor for 20 years. He had previously flogged Microsoft's Office, SharePoint, Exchange and – most recently – Office 365 brands, among other MS-stamped software.

The one-time speech assistant to Bill Gates was shunted out of his Office marketing job in March, when Microsoft confirmed that he was being groomed for "his next leadership role".

Capossela will report directly to the company's COO Kevin Turner.

He has taken on a fat portfolio at Microsoft, including working with the firm's OEM, retail, mobile operator and distie partners. Products he will be promoting include the company's Windows operating system, Windows Phone, Xbox and Office.

On top of all that, Capossela will also oversee Microsoft's marketing, advertising and corporate comms.

"As announced in March 2011, Mich Mathews, senior vice president of the central marketing group, will retire this summer, making this an opportune moment to bring the consumer channels and central marketing group functions under a single leader," said a thrifty Microsoft. ®