Laura K Ipsen is joining software giant Microsoft as corporate vice-president of its Worldwide Public Sector organisation.
Ipsen will lead the company’s sales and marketing organisation serving government, public safety and national security, education and non-privatised healthcare customers in more than 100 countries.
She will report to Susan Hauser, corporate vice-president of the Worldwide Enterprise & Partner Group.
Before joining Microsoft, Ipsen worked at Cisco Systems Inc, where she most recently served as senior vice-president and general manager of Connected Energy Networks. She also established and managed Cisco’s Global Policy and Government Affairs division.
Ipsen worked in government affairs and international trade for Hitachi Data Systems Corp, Acer Inc and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP before joining Cisco in 1995.
She is currently a board member of Monsanto and of the GridWise Alliance, and previously served as board chair of both the Information Technology Industry Council and the Organization of Women in International Trade.