Microsoft revamps sales groups

Microsoft (MSFT) is consolidating its sales and support organization into three rather than four groups worldwide.

The change, effective on Wednesday, is part of the software giant's plan to retool its organization from time to time. It involves no executive departures, a spokeswoman said.

Pieter Knook will be in charge of Asia, which includes the Far East, Southeast Asia, and India. Michael Lacombe will handle Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Orlando Ayala will be in charge of the South Pacific and the Americas.

In February, Microsoft said that the group responsible for development of Internet Explorer had been moved from the applications and Internet client group (or AICG), and would be housed under the umbrella of the personal and business systems group (PBSG), which oversees operating system development.