Ballmer got some b a d advice.
Key Microsoft executive leaves company
Tuesday June 20, 8:06 pm ET
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (NasdaqNM:MSFT - News) said on Tuesday the executive leading the software maker's marketing strategy to challenge rival Google Inc. (NasdaqNM:GOOG - News) has left the company.
Microsoft did not give details on why Martin Taylor left the world's biggest software maker after the 13-year company veteran was appointed in March to lead marketing efforts for Windows Live.
Microsoft's suite of Windows Live services, which includes e-mail, search, mapping and social networking, aims to unite the company's various Web programs under a unified brand and look so it can better compete against Yahoo Inc. (NasdaqNM:YHOO - News) and Google in the growing online advertising market.
"We have made the difficult decision to part ways with Martin, but we don't comment on personnel matters," the company said. "We appreciate Martin's contributions at Microsoft over the past 13 years."
Martin, who joined the Redmond, Washington-based company in 1993, had previously worked directly with Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer on strategic projects and long-term planning.
He also spent much of his career in sales and previously served as general manager of the company's Caribbean unit based in Puerto Rico and also worked in New York.
Last week Microsoft founder Bill Gates said that over the next two years he would ease out of a day-to-day role at the company to focus on philanthropy. He also stepped down as chief software architect.
Ballmer got some b a d advice.