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Microsoft hands Neath keys to OEM kingdom

Bedding down new boss as Windows 8.1 prepares to land

Microsoft has filled the Gary Fowle-shaped gap at the top of its local OEM business, with Darren Neath stepping into the breach.

Fowle resigned as senior OEM director at Microsoft UK in May and is heading to the vendor's Singapore operation to take on the same job.

"Darren Neath, formerly director of our multi-national accounts and local business, has been appointed OEM Lead for Microsoft in the UK," the vendor told us.

Industry old timer Neath has worked on both sides of the fence in channel and vendor land; he was software boss at Computer 2000; and had various roles at Fujitsu Siemens Computers. His time overlapped with Fowle at C2000, FSC and in 2010 he followed Fowle to Microsoft where they worked together in the OEM division.

"[Neath] brings with him an extensive knowledge of the OEM business from first -hand experience hacking worked for hardware manufacturers and in distribution," said Microsoft PR.

And, by jove, he'll need to draw upon those post experiences - Microsoft's done a pretty decent job of upsetting OEM pals by releasing its own Surface slab, and done little to help its hardware pals' flakey sales by giving them the unloved Windows 8 OS.

The final version of the Windows 8.1 update is due to start shipping to PC manufacturers by the end of next month so that they can build kit in time for Christmas. ®

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