[ISN] Microsoft shuffles execs to combat security flaws

[InfoSec News]

http://news.com.com/2100-1009_3-5190183.html

By Ina Fried 
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
April 12, 2004

Microsoft has transferred two top executives to its security business
unit, the latest in a series of shifts designed to put more resources
into battling viruses and other threats.

The company has shifted Gordon Mangione, head of Microsoft's SQL
Server unit, to a new role as corporate vice president of security
products. In his new position, Mangione will be responsible for the
development and support of Microsoft security products, including the
company's ISA Server, a product that acts as an intermediary between
the Internet and a company's internal network.

Microsoft also moved Rich Kaplan, who had been head of the company's
content development and delivery group, to the newly created role of
corporate vice president of security marketing. Kaplan has been doing
some security work over the past year as Microsoft has sought to
better publicize ways that companies can make using Microsoft products
more secure. Kaplan also helped lead Microsoft's efforts regarding the
Y2K issue.

Mangione has had some experience dealing with security issues as well.  
He headed the SQL unit when the SQL Slammer worm hit more than a year
ago.

Both Kaplan and Mangione will report to Mike Nash, the corporate VP
who heads Microsoft's Security Business and Technology Unit. A
Microsoft representative said the move is designed to expand the
number of executives involved in the security push.

"We are pleased to add both Rich Kaplan and Gordon Mangione, two very
experienced and talented executives," security business unit
representative Amy Carroll said in a statement.

Amid continued criticism over security gaps, the company is pouring
resources into security, shifting engineers away from Longhorn--the
next version of Windows--to the team adding security improvements to
Windows XP via the Service Pack 2 upgrade due shortly.

Microsoft said a replacement for Kaplan has not yet been named, while
Mangione's duties will be assumed by Paul Flessner, the senior vice
president of Microsoft's overall server platform division, as well as
by several general managers.