Thursday, December 4, 2008 4:36 PM
Chief Lobbyist Leaves Microsoft

Jack Krumholtz is leaving Microsoft after 14 years. A spokeswoman for the company said he is not ready to announce his next career step and wants to take a couple months off before moving into a new position. When we asked Krumholtz if he is considering a job in the new administration, he said he hasn't ruled it out.

Krumholtz opened the Microsoft federal government affairs office in Washington in March 1995 and served as a one-man shop for a year working out of the company's Chevy Chase sales office. Given the distance from Capitol Hill, Krumholtz, 47, spent most of his time in his Jeep on conference calls and writing and checking emails on the side of the road, said the company. During that time, he became known as "Jack in his Jeep."

During his time at Microsoft, Krumholtz oversaw the growth of the Washington office from one person to more than 20 people. Krumholtz led industry efforts on high-skilled immigration reform, H-1B visa issues, efforts to secure export control relief for encryption technologies, the passage of CAFTA, and digital TV issues. He was also involved in negotiations resulting in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Krumholtz, a Democrat, worked as an attorney in private practice. He earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Stay tuned for word on Krumholtz's successor at Microsoft ...
-- Winter Casey

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