Sources told CNET Malaysia that the three potential candidates are marketing director, Butt Wai Choon; director of enterprise division, Ang Tit Meng, and Microsoft Knowledge Capital Center (MKCC) manager Stanley Ng.
Butt described as "young, dynamic and fast-rising" by one source, is the likeliest to clinch the position. He was appointed marketing director of Microsoft Malaysia last November after a seven-year stint in a similar position in Microsoft Singapore.
A Malaysian, Butt currently oversees the marketing and sales of all Microsoft products as well as handling strategies, public relations and customers care.
Ang, who has been in the industry for over 10 years, joined the enterprise division at Microsoft two years ago. Prior to that, he worked at several computer firms in sales and marketing positions including Oracle and NCR.
Ng, who has been in the industry for more than seven years, is believed to be the key initiator behind MKCC, a developers' resource center and vehicle to forward Microsoft's Multimedia Super Corridor initiatives.
Last week, Benedict Lee sprung a surprise when he announced his resignation as head of the giant software subsidiary to "spend more time with his family."
Lee, 40, had held the position since 1995 and has been in the IT industry for 19 years.
Microsoft is known to be in hiring mode and ramping up on staff with recent advertisements in major dailies calling for consultants and business development managers, particularly to strengthen its channels and e-commerce strategy.
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