Kevin Turner is the new COO of Microsoft

World’s biggest software company has named their new chief operating officer. Mart Stores Inc.’s Kevin Turner would be taking over the responsibility and helping CEO Steve Ballmer to concentrate more on the products being developed by the company. Kevin would be taking care of departments like ales, marketing and service as well as the company’s fulfillment and technology operations.

He would be joining Microsoft from September 8. The company has been without a COO for around 3 years now. Rick Belluzzo was the last COO in Microsoft and he left the company 2002. That resulted in Ballmer oversee seven business units and all operational divisions. A market analyst said about this move: “This is another effort to fill that No. 3 executive role at Microsoft, which has proven to be a tough position because Bill and Steve have little inclination to give control to anyone else.”

Kevin Turner also happens to be the second outsider, the company has hired in the recent times to head departments in the company. Microsoft recently hired International Paper Co.’s Christopher Liddell as finance chief in April. Kevin would have to learn to work in the software field and also cope up with the pressures of working in direct contact with some of the biggest names in the industry like Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.

Wal-Mart on their part has named Doug McMillon to replace Turner. Turner would be receiving a $7 million starting bonus and would be taking over the top sales role from Kevin Johnson, a 13-year Microsoft veteran who will be named to another senior role in the next month.