Microsoft Corp, on Thursday, announced a management shake-up at its loss-making online division, thrusting an outsider into a prominent position ahead of a proposed merger with Yahoo Inc.
Brian McAndrews, former CEO of aQuantive digital advertising company that Microsoft bought last year, will assume greater responsibilities at the company’s online services unit.
While Microsoft also promoted two other executives to senior jobs in the division, the reshuffle suggested to some that Mr McAndrews will likely be in a top leadership position in the combined Microsoft-Yahoo, should the Web pioneer accept Microsoft’s $41.8 billion buyout offer. Mr McAndrews is expected to play a central role in integrating Yahoo’s advertising platform into Microsoft and creating a digital advertising powerhouse to rival Google Inc.
Mr McAndrews and Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie are expected to play a lead role in Microsoft’s charm offensive to retain Yahoo staff if a deal gets done. The pair will try to encourage Yahoo employees to bury years of Silicon Valley animosity toward Microsoft and join forces to defeat a common enemy in Google.
