Gary Simms

About Gary Simms

As a Director of Area Support Mr. Simms is responsible for leading Executive Escalation, Crisis Communications and customer support strategy for Microsoft\'s most strategic customers. Liaise with the C-Suite of Microsoft’s most strategic customers, acting as a trusted advisor and partner for the area’s Leadership. Be the Commander and Technical Leader during a Service Incident or large-scale event, coordinating key leaders and decision makers across Microsoft Support and Engineering Organizations. Have executive-facing communication to restore confidence, and partner with the customer’s Account Team to prevent recurrences through the Customer Engagement Plan to improve and shape the support experience, acting with urgency to produce the best possible outcomes.Gary has over twenty years of experience in senior leadership roles managing and motivating people, leading cross-functional and diverse teams, and executing strategic planning initiatives. He brings a wealth of knowledge in technology strategy and business alignment as well as multiple and varied aspects of IT and cybersecurity from companies such as Walmart, Wells Fargo, Lockheed Martin, and Freddie Mac. He developed his superior leadership skills through military service where he attained the rank of Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for Honorable and Distinguished Service

Experience

1. Director, Area Support Leader

   Microsoft

   Jan 2024 — Present

   Director of Area Support responsible for leading Executive Escalation, Crisis Communications and customer support strategy for Microsoft\'s most strategic customers. Liaise with the C-Suite of Microsoft’s most strategic customers, acting as a trusted advisor and partner for the area’s Leadership. Be the Commander and Technical Leader during a Service Incident or large-scale event, coordinating key leaders and decision makers across Microsoft Support and Engineering Organizations. Have executive-facing communication to restore confidence, and partner with the customer’s Account Team to prevent recurrences through the Customer Engagement Plan to improve and shape the support experience, acting with urgency to produce the best possible outcomes.

Education

• Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

  CIO Certification, Chief Information Officer Certification

  2015 — 2016

• Columbia Union College

  BS, Organizational Management

  2006 — 2008

• Central Texas College

  Associates, Criminal Justice

  1994 — 1998

• Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy

  CISO Certification , Information Security

• Carnegie Mellon

  Certificate, Management Strategies Program

  2012 — 2012

Skills

• Project Management
• Information Assurance
• Change Management
• Strategy
• Cmmi
• Sdlc
• Program Management
• IT Strategy
• Management
• Information Technology
• Risk Management
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Pmo
• Pmp
• Leadership
• Governance
• Business Process Improvement
• Dod
• Earned Value Management
• Vendor Management
• Integration
• Project Portfolio Management
• Process Improvement
• Business Process Re-Engineering
• Security
• Enterprise Software
• Enterprise Architecture
• Software Project Management
• Requirements Analysis
• Consulting