IBM is distributing a Dynamics AX-based distribution package that has been marketed by I.B.I.S., an Atlanta-area based Microsoft reseller. IBM is the product on the road as Accelerated Distributor. I.B.I.S. owner Andy Vabulas pointed to the agreement as fitting Microsoft's goal of partnering to fill vertical market holes served by the financial software. In July 2013, Vabulas' company was named a global independent software vendor of Advanced Distribution Software. The VAR's development work included additions in revenue management, order management, inventory and procurement.

Microsoft executive Jon Roskill became the CEO of cloud vendor Acumatica this week in what is clearly a surprising move. Roskill, who spent 20 years at Microsoft, was most recently corporate VP of the worldwide partner group, a position he took in June 2009. The surprise is that Roskill replaces Yury Larichev who became CEO in January 2013. The company says Larichev will decide upon his plans in two weeks or so, but will remain during the transition.

Must be something in the air. Last week, there was news Microsoft is planning a new fall conference in Fargo, N.D. This week, there's a speculation Tami Reller will leave Microsoft. And now, just as Microsoft Convergence is ready to kick off, comes the appointment of Doug Burgum, former president of Great Plains Software and former head of Microsoft Business Solutions, to the board of directors of Avalara. Besides his role in accounting software, Burgum is a founding partner of Arthur Ventures, a Fargo-based venture capital firm focused on software companies.

Shortly after Satya Nadella became CEO of Microsoft, my LinkedIn invitation to Tami Reller, Great Plains alum and Microsoft VP of marketing, was accepted. For some reason, I immediately thought "I wonder that means Tami is leaving Microsoft?" I put that in an email to a member of the GP channel. "She and Satya are friends," he replied. "And what has that ever gotten anybody in big business?" I commented. So of course, this weekend Reuters is reporting that Reller is leaving the company.