Phil Goldie - Director of Partner Development, Microsoft
Microsoft Australia's director of partner development, Phil Goldie, is set to cross the Tasman after being named as the new small, midmarket solutions and partners (SMS&P) lead for Microsoft New Zealand, effective 1 March.
Goldie, who has been based in Australia during his tenure with Microsoft’s local business, makes the move to New Zealand after more than six years with the company, in a variety of roles, including director, corporate account sales, and director, server and cloud business group.
“Phil will be sorely missed in the Australian subsidiary, however this move represents a fantastic opportunity as he takes the next exciting step in his career,” Mark Leigh, SMS&P lead, Microsoft Australia, said in an internal memo to the company’s employees in Australia.
According to Leigh, Goldie has fostered a strong partner ecosystem during his time as director of partner development for the company in Australia, leaving a “positive impact that will be felt for a long time to come because of the strong relationships he has built”.
“His work to establish the Partner Development Unit (PDU) will also continue to nurture these relationships to drive ongoing opportunities for not only Microsoft and our partners, but also for our customers,” Leigh said.
“Phil’s partnership with the channel has also seen strong emphasis on helping our partners transform their business models for the digital future.
"These skills and expertise will position Phil extremely well as he makes the move to New Zealand to head up SMS&P,” he said.
Certainly, Goldie has been on board during some major developments in Microsoft’s local channel landscape, including the launch of its cloud solution provider (CSP) program.
In 2014, Goldie found himself selling the CSP program to the local channel, despite some pushback among partners. Ultimately, however, the program gained acceptance under his watch.
“We lay out the opportunity and what the program really does. I haven’t met a partner that has pushed back after that. Most of the time once the partners once they really understand the context of it, they realise its going to be a really great program,” he told ARN at the time.
In 2015, Microsoft named Ingram Micro and Rhipe as the first Australian distributors to roll out the second phase of its CSP program locally.
Local distributors have since become Microsoft indirect CSPs under Goldie’s tenure, with Dicker Data kicking off distribution as a Microsoft Indirect CSP program partner locally last year.
Dicker Data joined Synnex as a Mainstream Indirect Partners in Australia, with Avnet, Distribution Central, and SaaSPlaza coming on as Azure focused Indirect Partners.
Now, as he faces the next phase in his career, Goldie said that the move presents, "a great opportunity to combine my next role leading SMS&P New Zealand with an ability to be closer to our family there".
“After an amazing seven years here in the Australian subsidiary it’s time to take the next step in my career and join the equally brilliant Team New Zealand," he said in the company memo.
"I’ve learnt so much from this team and had the privilege to work with so many great people, so thank you!”
Microsoft Australia said it is actively recruiting for a replacement for Goldie's role.
Goldie’s impending move to NZ comes after period of change for Microsoft in the local region. Managing director of Microsoft Australia, Pip Marlow, revealed plans in December to step away from the top job to take up a new role as CEO of strategic innovation for Suncorp.
A Microsoft veteran of 21 years, Marlow said at the time that, after two decades, she was ready to move on to a new challenge.
“Microsoft is a big part of who I am and this was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Marlow told ARN in December.
Marlow was replaced by Steven Worrall, who assumed responsibilities locally on 1 January. Prior to Microsoft, Worrall led IBM’s software business across Asia Pacific.
“I’m leaving the business in good hands and I’m confident that Microsoft will continue to go from strength to strength in Australia,” Marlow said.
