Former Tech Data bod to head up Microsoft's UK sales division

Microsoft have promoted a channel veteran with 24 years' experience to a top job within the sales team.

Linda Rendleman will join the small, mid-market solutions and partner group leadership team as director for partner business & development at Microsoft UK. She replaces Janet Gibbons, who has moved to corporate accounts as devices and services lead.

Rendleman starts work in January.

Clare Barclay, small mid-market solutions and partner general manager, said: “Linda brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding about partner [sic] to this critical role. We are at a pivotal time in the transformation of our business to devices and services and I look forward to seeing the impact that Linda will drive in helping our channel maximise the opportunity and take our UK partner strategy to the next level.”

Rendleman was overflowing with enthusiasm for her new job. She used to be the director of distribution and scale resellers.

“This is an exciting time for our company," she gushed. "I feel very excited and honoured to get the opportunity to lead our PB&D team [Partner Business & Development] and partner strategy as we continue this journey. I look forward to using my past and current partner experiences across distributors and resellers to help build strategies that will accelerate our joint business while at the same time improving our partner experience.”

So what sort of personality does a high-ranking member of the small mid-market solutions and partner group leadership team need to have?

Well, on her Linkedin page she claims to have "High Standards of Ethics & Integrity," which are so well developed they deserve to be capitalised.

She used to manage $1bn in annual worldwide revenues at Tech Data and has spent just over four years working at Microsoft.

Rendleman was given a Microsoft “Gold Star Award” in 2010 and has since been sent straight to the top of the class.

If you're a Microsoftie looking to suck up to the new boss, she's also apparently a fan of the book Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. So now you know. ®