Microsoft Corp. announced today that Timothy Chen has resigned as head of Microsoft Greater China Region and that the company has begun a global search for his successor. In the interim, Ya-Qin Zhang, Corporate Vice President and Chairman of Microsoft’s China Research & Development Group, will lead the business as the region’s acting Chief Executive Officer. Zhang, who will retain his current duties overseeing an organization of 1,500 employees, will be supported by the Microsoft GCR leadership team, a group representing decades of industry leadership experience. Zhang will also work closely with Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, to ensure a smooth transition. Chen will assume a new leadership role outside of the IT industry.