29 June 2006

Microsoft de-press-ed office?

What is going on with the Microsoft press office (aka, the Fish Bowl)?

It’s been happily chugging along, earning positive endorsements from the majority of IT trade journos for ages and then….

In a very short space of time it loses Mui Luc (to SAS, the BI software company as opposed to the clandestine killings operation), Demelza Fryer-Saxby (to Yell.com) and, this week, Mumtaz Beck, who was filled with a sudden desire to travel the world.

That’s the holy trinity of the press office gone.

Those new joiners are stepping into some big shoes….
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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Those new joiners are stepping into some big shoes…"

Replacing 'Mui', 'Demelza' and 'Mumtaz', so hopefully their names will not disappoint either.

10:38 pm
Anonymous said...

It's true, the loss of those three girls in rapid succession is a loss the the MS Press Centre...particularly Mumtaz who'd been trapped in the glass box for years! No wonder she fancies travelling.

But staff churn in the Press Centre will always be an issue...it's the nature of the role - 100% reactive service for the UK media, and who'd want to do that for very long? More remarkable is the fact that it's managed to deliver such a consistent service.

There are few opportunities for progression. The only options are to leave completely or hang on for a role in-house at MS (e.g. James Blamey) or in one of its agencies (e.g. Justin Westcott at Inferno and Georgina Hart at Edelman).

It's a decent grounding though. One of the first ever Microsoft Press Centre members was one Matt Warder, now Director of Weber Shandwick's Technology Division (and currently featured on its home page - www.webershandwick.co.uk)

8:49 am
Anonymous said...

Things went downhill rapidly since Mui left and now with Mumtaz gone they can only get worse. This new crop couldn't find their backsides with both hands and a torch.

4:40 pm
Anonymous said...

I've had nothing but efficeint service from the press centre - quick responses which helps me get the job done

11:39 am
Anonymous said...

I've heard they're all lookers...

4:23 pm
Anonymous said...

They are all lookers, but it's never really been the same since the old crop headed up by James Blamey left. I'm thinking Liz Gent, Claire Revans, Marie-Claire Suter, Mumtaz and Justin Westcott. Now they really were cream of the crop... ;-)

8:53 pm
Anonymous said...

Westcott...is that you?

9:04 am
Anonymous said...

Looks like PR Week is stealing your news - see today's issue page 12.

As for the wonder-team, it was at its best when Georgie Hart, Katie Townsend, Mui Luc and Demelza were there!

2:39 pm

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