Microsoft Veteran Tapped as Response Point GM

By Khali Henderson

Microsoft Corp. recently named company insider John Frederiksen as general manager for Microsoft Response Point, the software giant’s IP PBX software platform. His appointment comes in an effort to scale the business for the product, which the company said has gained traction since its launch in October 2007.

Response Point is a software-based IP PBX that is packaged as an appliance by three OEMs – D-Link, Aastra Technologies Ltd. and Quanta Computer Inc..

Frederiksen joined the Response Point team Jan. 5 and will oversee its engineering, marketing and business efforts. The five-member product leadership team – Robert Brown, Regi John, Li Jiang, Richard Sprague and John Wang – will report to him.

Frederiksen previously was general manager for the service lines and marketing team within the Microsoft Services Group, a $3 billion business responsible for support and professional services for Microsoft Enterprise Software.

Prior to joining Microsoft Services, he managed the Microsoft.com, and MSDN & TechNet Groups in Server and Tools Business. During his career at Microsoft, he has also been the general manager responsible for product management for the Windows Client Operating Systems, including product planning, technical marketing, PR and business strategy. Products under his management during his tenure with the Windows Client Product Management Group included Windows XP and Windows Millennium Edition. Prior to running the PC Experience team, John was director of the Windows 2000 Server Product Management team and a lead product manager on Microsoft Exchange Server.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Frederiksen worked for Novell as a systems engineer. He has a master’s degree in business administration from the Darden School at the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s of science degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University.