Allison L. Watson

Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group

Updated: July 7, 2008

As head of the Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft, Allison Watson leads a global team of 5,000 Microsoft employees and is responsible for Microsoft's worldwide strategy for the more than 640,000 independently owned-and-operated partner companies. These companies resell and provide services on Microsoft technologies for 43 million customers, ranging from the smallest entrepreneurs to the largest global enterprises. Watson leads strategy for and delivers cross-company commitment to Microsoft's partners of all types, including independent software vendors, value-added resellers, resellers, distributors and systems integrators serving business customers across all geographies and products.

Watson has been instrumental in establishing world-class channel leadership for Microsoft. During the past four years, she led the launch of the Microsoft Partner Program and secured an increased investment in the channel, doubling the overall commitment to over US$2 billion annually, aligning Microsoft's partner strategy more closely to the business interests of its partners, and translating that strategy into practical program elements that promote partner success in the marketplace.

In 2004 "CRN Magazine" recognized Watson for her achievements by naming her Channel Executive of the Year, and in 2006 it recognized her as one of the 10 Worldwide Agenda-Setters for realigning the largest partner program in the industry. In July 2007, "VARBusiness" named Watson one of "The Most Powerful Women of the Channel," and she was also recognized as a 2008 "CRN Channel Chief." CRN also recognized Watson's Microsoft Partner Program as a 5-Star Gold Program in its Partner Programs Guide.

Before assuming her current role in October 2003, Watson served as chief of staff in support of Kevin Johnson, now co-president of Microsoft's Platforms & Services Division. Prior to that, Watson served as general manager for Microsoft's Mid-Atlantic District, guiding the sales, marketing and consulting teams to exceed quota and delivering growth of more than 200 percent.

Before joining Microsoft in 1993, Watson held sales and consulting positions in the healthcare, manufacturing and high-tech industries. She holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Stanford University and a master's of business administration from San Diego State University.