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Database head to leave daily duties at Microsoft

Paul Flessner, the executive in charge of SQL Server and storage business, will step down in the new year.

Candace Lombardi
In a software-driven world, it's easy to forget about the nuts and bolts. Whether it's cars, robots, personal gadgetry or industrial machines, Candace Lombardi examines the moving parts that keep our world rotating. A journalist who divides her time between the United States and the United Kingdom, Lombardi has written about technology for the sites of The New York Times, CNET, USA Today, MSN, ZDNet, Silicon.com, and GameSpot. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not a current employee of CNET.
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Candace Lombardi
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A correction was made to this story. Read below for details.

Paul Flessner, who leads Microsoft's data storage and platform division, will step down from his daily duties after the new year.

Flessner, a senior vice president, is credited with the success of Microsoft's SQL Server 2005 and SQL Server 2000 database software.

Paul Flessner
Paul Flessner

Employees were informed of the change in an internal memo sent Tuesday from Bob Muglia, the senior vice president of server and tools business, Microsoft confirmed. Flessner is leaving to spend more time on personal endeavors and family, a company representative said Wednesday.

Flessner, who started with Microsoft as a program manager for enterprise computing in 1994, will still play a role at the software maker, the representative added. He will work on special projects within the platform service division on a part-time basis.

Microsoft is in the middle of a large reorganization that recently saw its security efforts moved under the umbrella of the Windows unit. The reorganization kicked off last year, when the software giant shuffled its operations into three units and announced the coming retirement of Windows unit head Jim Allchin.

Flessner will remain in his current position until Jan. 1. After that, Ted Kummert will take over. Kummert is currently corporate vice president for the security, access and solutions division in Microsoft's server and tools business unit.

Kummert has been at Microsoft since 1989, serving in several executive positions, including corporate vice president of the business process and integration division and corporate vice president of Microsoft's online business, MSN. Before joining Microsoft, Kummert worked at Apple Computer and Hewlett-Packard.

 
Correction: A headline for this story incorrectly described Paul Flessner's plans at Microsoft. He plans to step down from his daily duties as head of the company's data storage and platform division.