Datacom hires Microsoft, Xbox veteran as new solutions MD

Datacom has appointed Microsoft veteran Jonathan Usher as the managing director of its newest division, Datacom Solutions.

Datacom Group chief executive Jonathan Ladd said the new division would focus on "developing and taking to market solutions for key vertical industries and functional areas, built on Datacom’s own IP as well as drawing on capabilities from third party partnerships".

Ladd praised Usher's knowledge of global technology product, domain and marketing. "This will add significantly to our overall team bench strength."

Usher said: "With Datacom's extensive geographic base across Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the Philippines, and with our market leading software capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to support our customers to best achieve their business goals."

[LinkedIn: making the switch from vendor to channel or vice versa]

Usher started his career with Telecom New Zealand before taking a role at Microsoft's US headquarters in 1996 as its first telecom industry marketing manager. He would spend the next 16 years with the software giant.

Over the following decade and a half, Usher held a variety of positions at Microsoft, including heading up global marketing at its Windows Digital Media Division.

In that role, he lead product and industry marketing and product management of all of Microsoft's technologies and products for audio and video entertainment.

Usher returned to New Zealand in 2005 and continued in global roles with a focus on TV and video entertainment partnerships worldwide on Xbox 360 and Microsoft Mediaroom.

According to LinkedIn, Usher parted ways with Microsoft in 2012, where he had been director interactive entertainment solutions.

Datacom is a private company headquartered in New Zealand. It posted revenues of NZ$870 million (A$765 million) for the year ending 31 March 2013, a rise of 10 percent over last year's NZ$788 million.

Around a quarter of Datacom's 4,000-plus workforce is in Australia.