Microsoft appoints Jim DuBois as CIO

Veteran with over 20 years at Microsoft to head up IT infrastructure

Microsoft has appointed Jim DuBois as its new CIO, following his six-month stint in an interim position after the departure of former CIO Tony Scott, who took up a similar role at VMware.

DuBois, whose full title will be corporate vice president and chief information officer, will oversee all of Microsoft's IT applications, infrastructure and solution delivery.
Described by the company as "a tech leader with a unique view of IT innovation," DuBois has been with Microsoft for over twenty years, during which time he's held positions including general manager of IT and vice president of Microsoft Products and Services IT.

Those leadership positions appear to have helped convince Microsoft that he's the man to lead their IT strategy.

"Jim has demonstrated outstanding leadership in managing our IT organisation through the transition period while continuing to position IT as a strategic asset and growth lever for Microsoft," said Kevin Turner, COO at Microsoft.

"I am confident that, as CIO, he will continue to deliver world-class IT infrastructure and innovation for Microsoft," he continued.

"His proven ability in creating initiatives that build business value and support customers and partners will be invaluable to Microsoft as we continue to accelerate our transformation to a devices-and-services company," Turner added.

DuBios will officially start his new position as Microsoft CIO from January 1st 2014. The role of CIO isn't the only senior position that Microsoft has been looking to fill, with the company still to decide who will replace Steve Ballmer as CEO.

However, Microsoft board member John Thompson recently revealed that the company is moving closer to appointing a new CEO and expects to fill the position near the start of next year.

"We identified over 100 possible candidates, talked with several dozen and then focused our energy intensely on a group of about 20 individuals, all extremely impressive in their own right," he said.

"As you would expect, as this group has narrowed, we've done deeper research and investigation, including with the full Board. We're moving ahead well, and I expect we'll complete our work in the early part of 2014," Thompson added.