Microsoft forms new advertising unit
SEATTLE, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O), which just bought aQuantive, on Monday named Brian McAndrews, the acquired company's former chief executive, to head a new business division to work with advertisers and publishers. Microsoft said it had created the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions group, which will be responsible for building and marketing all of its advertising platforms. McAndrews will report directly to Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's platforms and services division.
Microsoft has completed its $6 billion acquisition of Web advertising company aQuantive, the largest purchase in the company's history, aQuantive said in a regulatory filing earlier on Monday.
The world's largest software maker announced its purchase of Seattle-based aQuantive in May as it tries to build an online advertising powerhouse to compete against Google Inc. (GOOG.O) and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO.O).
(Reporting by Daisuke Wakabayashi)
((Editing by Lisa Von Ahn, Reuters Messaging: daisuke.wakabayashi.reuters.com@reuters.net; +1 206 652 2326)) Keywords: AQUANTIVE MICROSOFT/ADVERTISING
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