Pieter Knook, a former senior vice president of  the Mobile Communications Business (MCB) at Microsoft, will be appointed as Director of Internet Services of the newly created division Vodafone Internet Services, the mobile operator announced today in a press statement. He will report to Frank Rovekamp, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone Group.

Vodafone Internet Services will focus on the provision and delivery of distinctive consumer web services such as IP communications, mobile internet access and selected content categories, through mobile devices.

Knook, 49, joins Vodafone on 10 March, following 17 years with Microsoft where, as one of the most senior executives in the company, he spent the last 5 years as Senior Vice President running Microsoft’s Mobile business, including strategy, product development, marketing and sales.

Under Knook's leadership, Windows Mobile has become one of the fastest growing businesses at Microsoft and is now available from more than 125 operators in over 55 countries and 140 different models. In FY06 Microsoft shipped 10 million units of Windows Mobile, 6 million of which were phone enabled.

From 2001 to 2006, Knook was also responsible for the Communications Sector sales force (CS), the Microsoft Embedded business and the Automotive Business Unit.

Knook joined Microsoft in 1990 and has held a variety of management leadership positions both at the Company’s Redmond, Wash., headquarters and internationally.

Pieter Knook will be replaced Andrew Lees, corporate vice president, who currently runs the Microsoft Server & Tools Marketing and Solutions Group.