Microsoft Names Ask.com CEO to Help Guide MSN, Windows Live

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Microsoft announced on April 21 that it had named Steve Berkowitz, the former CEO of Ask.com, to fill an opening at the top of its Online Business Group unit.

On May 8, Berkowitz will become the senior vice president in charge of the group that oversees MSN.com, MSNTV, MSN Internet access programming, advertising sales, business development and marketing for MSN and Windows Live.

The end-to-end management of the Online Business Group profit-and-loss center also is now under Berkowitz.

The Windows Live platform services and operational capabilities fall under a separate group, known as the Windows Live Platform group, headed by Blake Irving.

/zimages/4/28571.gifMicrosoft outlines its Windows Live development strategy. Click here to read more.

Irvings group is in charge of creating the advertiser and developer “ecosystems” around Windows Live.

Berkowitz is succeeding David Cole, the current senior vice president in charge of these various properties.

/zimages/4/28571.gifRead more here about Ask.com, formerly Ask Jeeves.

Cole is set to begin a year-long leave of absence in May.

Microsoft officials reiterated last month that Cole is planning to return to the company in some capacity at the end of his sabbatical.

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