Tech Moves: Microsoft CVP leads new ‘Trusted Technology Group’; MicroVision adds CTO

Microsoft’s Teresa Hutson has taken the role of corporate vice president for the company’s newly created Trusted Technology Group.

“We believe — I believe — AI can change the world. But we must build it — and all technology — so that it is both useful and trusted,” Hutson said on LinkedIn.

Microsoft is modifying its mission-focused “four pillars,” which include working to expand opportunities, earn trust, protect fundamental rights and advance sustainability. The revised construct merges the “trust” and “fundamental rights” pillars, Hutson said in her post.

The reorganization will reflect that change, creating the Trusted Technology Group that combines the corporation’s Privacy, Safety and Regulatory Affairs Group; its Office of Responsible AI; and its Technology for Fundamental Rights Group.

Hutson holds a law degree and has been at Redmond, Wash.- based Microsoft for more than 16 years. Her roles have included legal work on cross-border employment and immigration; serving as VP of Tech and Corporate Responsibility; and corporate VP of Technology for Fundamental Rights.

— In other Microsoft news, Rima Alaily is now head of the Infrastructure Legal Affairs team at the company. Alaily has also been at the company for 16 years, previously serving as corporate VP of the Competition and Market Regulation Group since 2018.

In announcing her new position, Alaily similarly referenced Microsoft’s increased focus on AI.

“While we have always been and will continue to be a product and services company, we are also increasingly an infrastructure company,” she said on LinkedIn. “This fiscal year we will invest about $80 billion to build out AI-enabled datacenters to power our AI transformation and more important the AI transformation of our customers.”

— Siteimprove hired Christy Marble as chief marketing officer. Marble previously served as CMO for companies including SAP Concur, Pantheon Platform and Visier.

Siteimprove is based in Copenhagen and has an office in Bellevue, Wash., where a majority of its executive leadership team is located. Earlier this month, the company announced Nayaki Nayyar as its new CEO. Siteimprove provides AI-powered marketing, analytics and search engine optimization.

— MicroVision appointed Glen De Vos as its chief technology officer. De Vos was at the automotive components company Delphi for 25 years. That business later became Aptiv, and DeVos held leadership roles at both companies.

MicroVision, which has operations in Redmond, Detroit and Hamburg, Germany, builds automotive lidar sensors for automotive safety systems, autonomous vehicles and non-automotive applications.

— RealWear announced Sebastian Beetschen as its new CEO, taking over from co-founder Chris Parkinson. The Vancouver, Wash., company provides rugged, hands-free, voice-controlled technology for front-line workers. Its devices include smart glasses that incorporate AI features and thermal cameras.

Parkinson helped launch RealWear in 2016, after previously founding Integral RFID, which provided Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies. He is now CEO of QBH.ai, a company that’s in stealth mode.

Beetschen was formerly CEO of the Swiss startup Almer Technologies for almost four years.

— Armoire, a Seattle startup offering online apparel rentals, appointed longtime Nordstrom leader Scott Meden to its advisory board.

Meden joined Nordstrom in 1985 as a salesman and worked his way up the ranks, serving as a buyer and merchandise manager, and president of Nordstrom Rack. He retired in 2022 as Nordstrom’s chief marketing officer.

Meden said he was “honored” to join the startup’s board. “The company’s innovative approach to sustainable fashion resonates with me,” he said, “and I look forward to contributing to Armoire’s growth and success.”

— Icertis, a Bellevue-based contract management software company, appointed Shashi Mandapaty to its strategic advisory board. Mandapaty has held leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble. Icertis recently raised $50 million in a new investment.

— ZeroAvia announced former Federal Aviation Administrator Billy Nolen as its senior strategy and regulatory advisor. Nolen will help the sustainable aviation company pursue the certification of its electric propulsion system and hydrogen-electric powertrains. ZeroAvia is based in California and the United Kingdom, and has R&D and manufacturing operations in Everett, Wash.

— Seattle startup Opanga welcomed Neville Ray, former president of technology at T-Mobile, to its board of directors. Opanga focuses on using machine learning to boost software used by telecom companies and network operators. Its Opanga RAIN product is an AI-powered radio access network optimization platform.

— Redmond Mayor Angela Birney joined the board of Greater Seattle Partners. The organization is a public-private partnership focused on regional economic development. It works to bring together business interests, foreign companies, investors, education leaders and government.