Microsoft's German boss quits over interference

MICROSOFT'S top man in Germany has quit over what he says are Redmond's restrictions on the European operation.

According to German news agency DPA, Jürgen Gallmann, 44, will clear out his desk at the end of the year and remove his name from under the words CEO Germany from the door. Both he and Vole are keeping quiet about the exact reasons.

It seems that the centralised management structure is starting to grate on the German branch. In an email that Gallmann sent to his 2,000 staff, he said he has had a gutful of the increasing restrictions that world headquarters in Redmond had imposed on the German operation.

Since he joined the company in 2002, Gallmann had been doing well for Microsoft. The German branch was making Vole a lot of cash and was one of the outfit's biggest money spinners.

Microsoft has admitted that Gallman "has requested the termination of his contract due to differing opinions concerning the future direction for Microsoft Deutschland".

The shy and retiring and softly spoken Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that he much regretted Gallman's decision. He said that Gallman and Microsoft would remain chums despite his quitting. Klaus Holse Andersen, a vice president, will become interim general manager of Microsoft Germany.

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