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Microsoft Reshuffles Web Execs

Microsoft announced the recent promotions of 14 executives, seven to senior vice president positions and seven others to corporate vice president.

Microsoft announced the recent promotions of 14 executives, seven to senior vice president positions and seven others to corporate vice president.

Among the senior vice president promotions are Satya Nadella, senior vice president of Search, Portals and Advertising, and Bill Veghte, senior vice president of Online Services and the Windows Business Group. Both will be working with Brian McAndrews, senior vice president of Microsoft's Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group and former CEO of aQuantive.

According to the press release, the trio will be tasked with outlining the "business strategy, sales, marketing and engineering efforts for Windows Live, Search and MSN." That job is currently the responsibility of Steve Berkowitz, senior vice president of Microsoft's Online Business Group, who announced that he's leaving the company in August 2008. Berkowitz has headed the Online Business Group since 2006; prior to that, he was head of InterActiveCorp. A Microsoft spokesperson said through e-mail that Berkowitz decided to leave and pursue new opportunities just as the company begins to "re-align the businesses."

Nadella, Veghte and McAndrews will report to Kevin Johnson, president of Platforms and Services.

While unrelated, the reorganization does come on the heels of Microsoft's bid to buy Yahoo for $44.6 billion.

Among other notable promotions listed on the press release:

  • Andy Lees is moving from corporate vice president of Server and Tools Marketing to senior vice president of Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business. He fills a role being vacated by Pieter Knook, who left the company to "pursue new opportunities," according to the release.
  • Scott Guthrie steps up from general manager in the Developer Division to corporate vice president of the .NET Developer Platform.
  • Roz Ho steps up from managing the Entertainment and Devices Division to corporate vice president of Premium Mobile Offerings. The promotion means Ho will lead the effort to integrate newly acquired Danger Inc., which was announced earlier this week.

For a complete list, read Microsoft's press release here.

About the Author

Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.

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