Microsoft VP quits to join Google

By Steve Malone

Posted on 30 Jun 2006 at 10:38

Another senior executive has left Microsoft. Vic Gundotra, the general manager for platform evangelism at Microsoft who has been with the company for 15 years has quit the company to join Google. This news arrives shortly after the revelation that Microsoft VP Martin Taylor, the former Martin Taylor, the VP of Windows Live and MSN quit just 24 hours after announcing Windows Live Messenger.

Like all senior Microsoft staff, Gundotra has a clause in his contract that will prevent him from working for Google for at least a year. During his sabbatical Gundotra is going to devote his time to 'charitable endeavours'. Last year Microsoft sued Google after Kai-Fu Lee, the former corporate VP of Microsoft's Natural Interactive Services Division, left to head Google's new China research and development centre.

Although the timing of the departures may be coincidence, it does seem that there is a changing of the guard going on at Microsoft. The announcement by Bill Gates that he is stepping down from his role as Chief Software Architect and his replacement by Ray Ozzie is said to be behind the changes as he puts his own team in place.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the Small and Mid-market Solutions and Partners (SMS&P) group is now to report to the company's Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner with its former chief Orlando Ayala moving to oversee the company's push into emerging markets.