Microsoft leaks execs

By Candice Jones for Microsoft

Johannesburg, 16 Jul 2008

Microsoft's staff leak is showing no sign of letting up, with the fourth high-level resignation in two months being confirmed.

Hot on the heals of the resignation of the company's first black MD, Pfungwa Serima, human resources director Sandy Mohonathan has also tendered her resignation.

Financial director Nicola Dewar and Henry Ferreira, head of Microsoft's enterprise and partners group, have also decided to leave the company.

"Sandy Mohonathan, Microsoft's HR director, has resigned to pursue new business opportunities. Her decision to leave was part of a continuous discussion on career, work and life opportunities," says Microsoft.

The software giant is adamant it is business as usual. "The company's business and technical leadership has never been stronger, and Microsoft is well positioned for success in the years ahead. The company has outstanding succession plans in place, and there are some truly excellent people acting in the vacant positions at the moment."

Serima, who took over as MD in August 2006, succeeding Gordon Frazer, will take up the top spot at SAP Africa. It is not yet clear where the other executives have found employment.

This is not the first time the company has experienced a staff exodus. Microsoft SA lost six senior executives last year, including Hennie Loubser, enterprise and partner group director; Belinda Godfrey, small and mid-market solutions and partner group director; Danny Naidoo, developer and platform group director; Jonathan Hatchuel, Windows group manager; Goona Sagaren Udayan, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manager; and Bradley Hopkinson, regional director of OEM for the Middle East and Africa region.

Skills shortage?

Microsoft says it is not surprised its staff are being poached. "We work within a free market environment. With highly skilled leadership in short supply both locally and internationally, it is inevitable that our top people become targets for other companies."

Deloitte's annual "The Best Company to Work for" survey found Microsoft SA to be the top ICT company in SA to be employed at, both in 2006 and 2007. Taking into account all industries, Microsoft was placed second overall.

In an interview with ITWeb's Brainstorm last year, Mohonathan commented on why the company received the honour. "Microsoft focuses on the people, the culture and the climate of the company," she said.

She explained the company's methods of attracting and maintaining staff members included incentive packages, a development and succession plan for all incoming staff members, even a system for staff members' children to have help with schooling.

At the time, she said: "It sounds like a fairytale kingdom, and it is."