Meet Your Office 2010 ‘Road Warriors’

New Zealand: Meet Your Office 2010 ‘Road Warriors’

Five winning applicants named for world-first programme

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — 4 March, 2010 — Three weeks ago, Microsoft New Zealand began a search to find five Office 2010 Road Warriors with the skills and abilities to advocate the latest version of the productivity suite. Today, Microsoft announced the names of the exceptional individuals that successfully completed the selection process and accepted a four-month contract to tell the Microsoft Office 2010 story to local businesses.

Jared Pedersen, SMB Sales & Marketing Manager for Microsoft New Zealand says the call attracted an international influx of applications for the plum position.

“We received more than 90 applications from around the world and couldn’t be happier with the response this programme has generated. It was a tough job whittling the applicants down to the top five, but we’re extremely pleased with the high calibre of talent the Road Warrior programme has attracted. Now the fun begins.”

After a day of presentations on 2 March by more than 40 applicants, a panel of judges selected the five successful Road Warriors who will partner with Ingram Micro and Express Data in the coming months.
They are:

Catherine Andrews – originally from Napier but now calling Auckland home, Catherine has held a variety of sales roles and recently worked for Flight Centre in Australia. She will work alongside Ingram Micro.

Paul Conroy – hailing from Wigan in the United Kingdom, Paul brings a technical background in pre-sales and a strong passion for technology to the role. He will report to Ingram Micro.

Ally Chapman – a certified Microsoft Office Specialist Master and enthusiastic baker who will be employed by Express Data.

Andrea Turner – a native Wellingtonian, who will bring her 12 years of IT and sales experience to her role with Ingram Micro.

Matt Grant – from Howick, Auckland. With a sales background having spent a number of years working with the SMB team at Microsoft, he will report to Express Data.

The Road Warrior programme marks a return to an old-fashioned sales approach, wearing out shoe leather to meet customers in person on a town by town basis, combined with a high-tech edge, as the rest of New Zealand can follow the Warriors’ progress via video and social media at www.microsoft.co.nz/roadwarriors. Pedersen says, “We want to provide a personalised way for customers to learn about Office 2010, and have a little fun along the way. We’re excited about the new version of Office, and want that energy to carry through to our customers as they meet the Warriors.”

According to Kelly Eyerman, Senior Business Manager for Ingram Micro: “We’re excited to have the Warriors join our team for this much-anticipated launch, and can’t wait to help solve the problems related to productivity and cost-savings faced by New Zealand businesses with Office 2010.”

Paul Plester, General Manager for Express Data believes the Road Warrior programme is a fitting way to launch Office 2010: “We think the Road Warrior programme is an innovative way to spread the word about Office 2010 and generate strong sales along the way. We’re very happy to be involved at the very centre of the action.”

The five Road Warriors will now begin a frenetic schedule, each visiting 200 medium-sized businesses around the country in the next four months. At the conclusion of the competition, the top performing Warrior will receive a $10,000 bonus, as measured on sales, customer visits and social media activity among other factors.

The Road Warriors will make use of laptops and LED projectors supplied by HP, video recorders from Canon, and mobile phones provided by Telecom.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

ENDS

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