Microsoft appoints public sector head to tackle open source threat

Microsoft has appointed a new leader for its Worldwide Public Sector group, which plays a key role in its efforts to counter competition from open source software in government and education markets.

Gerri Elliott succeeds Maggie Wilderotter and will be corporate vice president for Worldwide Public Sector. She will oversee Microsoft's outreach to governments and educational organizations around the world, Microsoft said in a statement Tuesday.

Elliott joined Microsoft in 2001 after 22 years at IBM. She is currently responsible for Microsoft's enterprise sales force and the vendor's industry-specific products for such industries as health care, financial services and retail, Microsoft said. Elliott will start her new job on Oct. 15.

Wilderotter joined Microsoft in November 2002 and will leave the Redmond, Washington, software maker to become Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Communications a US-based provider of communications services to rural and suburban areas. Wilderotter will take the helm at Citizens Communications on Nov. 1.