Long-time Dynamics channel strategist Jeff Edwards departing Microsoft

Jeff Edwards, long-time director and strategist for the Microsoft Dynamics channel, is departing the company.

Edwards began notifying Microsoft partners of his decision this week, explaining that he will be leaving to run the global channel for GE's Energy Distribution business, which sells software and hardware to utilities that connect, manage and monitor electricity from generation to homes and businesses.

Edwards has been with Microsoft since the Great Plains acquisition and has had a hand in crafting a range of key programs in the Dynamics partner channel for years, including the rollout of the Cloud Solution Provider program in 2015, the earlier Master VAR program, and various competency decisions.

He has earned a reputation for providing candid views on the issues and challenges that Microsoft and the channel face together. For example, when Microsoft made the controversial decision to end many SMB ERP certification exams in 2014, Edwards engaged in constructive dialog with critics to further explain Microsoft's reasoning.

Back in 2010, Edwards was championing programs with goals that sound remarkably similar to those of the 2017 landscape. He was involved in the push to encourage partners to become more industry focused, and stated at the time that the trend toward partner consolidation had the potential to help firms offer the more integrated business solutions that Microsoft was looking to sell.

Partner competency standards have also been on Edwards' plate at various points. The standards have changed along with Microsoft's ...