Apr 6, 2011 15:56 GMT  ·  By

Spring cleaning for Microsoft is synonymous with a little reorganization, with the company announcing the creation of the new Consumer Channels Group.

According to the software giant, no less than three groups have been melted into a single organization. Essentially, the Consumer Channels Group is the result of Microsoft’s Retail, Mobile Operator and Distribution teams having been brought together.

The new group also proved an opportune moment for new leadership. Chris Capossela is no longer senior vice president of the Microsoft Information Worker Product Management Group, but will take on the new role of senior vice president of the Consumer Channels and Central Marketing Group.

And while Capossela was named Microsoft chief marketing officer, plans of retirement have been confirmed for Mich Mathews, senior vice president of the Central Marketing Group.

Mathews will remain with the Redmond company until summer 2011, helping Capossela transition to the new role.

The new Microsoft CMO will “work in close collaboration with Microsoft’s OEM, retail, mobile operator and distribution partners to create new business opportunities and deliver exciting consumer experiences through Windows, Windows Phone, Xbox and Office,” Microsoft revealed.

“He will also assume responsibility for Microsoft’s marketing, advertising and corporate communications.”

Capossela will work under Kevin Turner, Chief Operating Officer, according to the Redmond company.

Most recently, he was responsible for the entire Office business, which includes projects such as Exchange, SharePoint, SharePoint Server, Lync and the upcoming Office 365 Cloud-based productivity offering.

The software giant point out that Capossela was one of the key figures in taking Office into the Cloud, which also involves the Office Web Apps companion to the desktop productivity suite.

Capossela has been with Microsoft for over 20 years, and is one of the company’s veterans.