Microsoft Gives Mehdi New Role in Online Services
Yusuf Mehdi takes on some of Kevin Johnson's old responsibilities, but the online services unit still needs a top boss.
Microsoft has placed long-time exec Yusuf Mehdi in charge of a piece of its Online Services division.
As online audience business leader, Mehdi’s new responsibilities include global product management, U.S. marketing, and business development for search and MSN.
With the appointment, Bill Veghte is no longer responsible for those areas and will focus exclusively on business strategy, sales and marketing for Windows and Windows Live.
Microsoft’s Online Services Group is still without a top dog however. Its previous chief, Kevin Johnson, left in July when the unit was reorganized, and CEO Steve Ballmer took over on an interim basis.
Johnson’s responsibilities have been divvied up among several executives, including Mehdi; Satya Nadella, SVP of the Search and Ad Platform group; and Brian McAndrews, SVP of Advertiser & Publisher Solutions. The search is still on for someone to lead the entire unit.
Mehdi’s previous title was SVP strategic partnerships, where he oversaw strategic partnerships across the company’s personal services business. He joined Microsoft in 1992.
