General Manager of Platform Strategy, Microsoft Corporation

Bill Hilf is the General Manager of Platform Strategy driving Microsoft's platform strategy efforts across the company. Bill's primary focus is to champion platform initiatives that cross these groups, while leading long-term strategy planning in the Windows Server and Tools organization. In this role, Bill regularly engages with the field and worldwide regions to provide a direct channel for customer and community feedback. This interaction enables customer and community input to be incorporated within Microsoft's forthcoming products and technologies.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Bill led IBM's Linux/Open Source Software technical strategy at a world-wide level for the Emerging and Competitive markets organization, in addition to his direct customer interaction as a senior enterprise architect. Bill has been involved with Open Source Software (OSS) for over twelve years, and is an IEEE Distinguished Visitor on the subject of OSS. Prior to joining IBM, Bill was Vice President of Engineering for eToys, where he helped build one of the premier ecommerce businesses on the Web. Previously, he worked as a software architect for multiple Silicon Valley-based software companies, such as CNET Networks and Black Sun Interactive. Bill is a graduate of Chapman University Graduate School.