Surface commercial channel lead, take two, as Viet departs

Microsoft has appointed Brett Murray as Surface commercial channel lead, with Fred Viet departing the role.

Viet was appointed as the first ever Australian Surface commercial channel manager in February, but is leaving the role – and Australia – and returning to France for personal reasons.

Murray has been with Microsoft since 2010, initially as a senior portfolio manager, and most recently as director of mobile device sales.

Prior to joining Microsoft, he worked for a number of technology companies including LG Electronics, Palm and Telstra.

A spokesperson for Microsoft Australia says Murray 'has always demonstrated a strong through partner approach to his business across both consumer and business channels and is looking forward to this new opportunity'.

Microsoft's appointment of a commercial Surface channel lead comes as the vendor ramps up its Surface channel locally and globally.

Early this year it added 150 new authorised Surface resellers in Australia in a move it said reflected continued high demand for Surface in the commercial sector.

The reselles are distributor-managed by Synnex and Ingram Micro and are able to sell the full range of Surface products including the Surface Book.

Murray takes up the role on July 01.