Microsoft Names New Mac BU Manager

Microsoft said Friday it had named Craig Eisler to head the Macintosh Business Unit, replacing Roz Ho, who had spent seven years with the division and spearheaded much of the Redmond company's recommitment to the platform.

Eisler was formerly development chief for the company's DirectX platform, however he left the company to work for mobile software developer Action Engine as its CEO and then helping AOL launch its wireless offerings in 2005.

One of Eisler's first challenges is to ensure the smooth release of Office 2008 for Mac, one of the unit's biggest releases in about four years. Ho will move on to another role within the Entertainment and Devices division the company said.

"Interesting news on the eve of Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference," noted Microsoft pundit Mary Jo Foley mused. WWDC will begin on Monday.

"Apple and Microsoft are great partners (have been for over 20 years), and there is still more we and Apple can do together," Eisler said in a web log post on the Office for Mac Team blog, saying it was a "compelling opportunity."

In a statement, Microsoft stressed that the management shake up would in no way affect the timing of the Office release.