NComputing Inc., a maker of desktop virtualization software and hardware, announced that Will Poole, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential Group and former head of the Windows Client Business, has joined NComputing as co-chairman and member of the board of directors.

Poole joined Microsoft in 1996 through the acquisition of eShop Inc., a company he co-founded in 1991 and ran as president and chief operating officer. Prior to eShop, Poole spent five years at Sun Microsystems Inc., working in senior marketing and engineering management roles.

Headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., NComputing's technology lowers desktop computing costs, improves manageability and reduces both energy consumption and e-waste, according to a company press release. In January it raised $28 million in its Series B round led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from existing backers Scale Venture Partners and Daehong Technew Corp. The round gave the company a valuation of more than $100 million, Stephen Dukker, the company's chairman and chief executive, told VentureWire at the time. NComputing raised an $8 million Series A round in October 2006.