Microsoft Reorganization Cuts Central Marketing Jobs

Microsoft is reportedly in the midst of cutting some 200 jobs as the giant software company restructures its marketing operations.

Rumored for several weeks, the reorganization involves eliminating positions in the company's central marketing organization and turning more marketing responsibilities over to individual product units.

"Given the rapid changes in technology and the shifts in how our customers connect with Microsoft, great marketing is more important than ever to Microsoft's future success," Microsoft said in a statement.

"We're taking steps to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our marketing, and to strengthen career paths for marketers at Microsoft. Some of these changes involved the reduction of a small percentage of marketing positions, to better align our resources with our business needs and clarify roles across the marketing function."

The company did not confirm the reported number of layoffs, which was reported by Geekwire to number around 200. Information about whether Microsoft's channel operations were affected by the layoffs was not available.

Last year Microsoft named Chris Capossela, who previously managed marketing for the company's Office applications and other productivity software, to be chief marketing officer for the whole company.

Microsoft spent nearly $14 billion on sales and marketing in fiscal 2011 ended June 30, 2011. The Redmond, Wash.-based company has some 25,000 sales and marketing employees out of a total employee roster of 90,000.