John Connors, who has been CFO for five years, is going to Ignition Partners LLC, a Bellevue, Washington-based VC firm. Ignition was founded about five years ago by former executives of Microsoft and McCaw.
Microsoft has not named a replacement yet, but said it will consider and external applicants. Connors will stay around long enough to help with the transition to his successor.
Notable financial events that occurred under Connors’ watch include Microsoft’s first-ever dividend payment and its transition away from stock options as a form of employee compensation.
Whoever replaces Connors will become responsible for the books of the world’s largest software company at a time when its business is at a crucial juncture as it tries to adapt to the post-PC world.
I will miss Microsoft a great deal, but it’s time for me to move to a new chapter in my life, Connors said in a statement. I’m looking forward to a greater emphasis on community and business participation in the Northwest.
Ignition said Connors will focus on managing the firm’s investments in enterprise software and services companies. The company has 30 companies in its portfolio and about $750 million under management, having secured a $300 million third round last October.
The company’s investments cover a broad range of technology startups, ranging from spam control and vulnerability management, to rural telecommunications to online book clubs and job-finding services.
Its portfolio included Consera Software Corp, the systems management software vendor acquired by Hewlett-Packard Co a year ago. Current enterprise software investments include Certus, Clearsight and Full Capture Solutions.
