At this rate, Microsoft won't need Yahoo at all
Microsoft has hired away yet more Yahoo execs, as TechFlash reported on June 23.
On June 22, Microsoft announced, via the MS Datacenters blog, it had hired away Yahoo Vice President of Operations Kevin Timmons to head Microsoft's Global Foundation Services' Data Center Services organization.
TechFlash's Todd Bishop adds that there are two other Yahoos (one of whom went from Yahoo to Google to Microsoft, to be fair) who also have joined the Microsoft Search team: Yongdong Wang, the Yahoo VP of International Search and Knut Risvik, a former Yahoo Chief Architect
I've seen a few industry watchers refer to these moves as Microsoft "poaching" Yahoo's talent. But I wonder whether this is a case of Microsoft poaching or Yahoos jumping ship (or maybe a little bit of both). In any case, Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz may have to look elsewhere for someone to offer the "big boatloads of money" that a Yahoo search buyout or partnership would require....
Update: In other hiring-related news, a former Softie has resurfaced at Juniper Networks, where she is working for former Microsoft president Kevin Johnson. Gerri Elliott, who headed Microsoft's Worldwide Public Sector business until December 2008, is Juniper's new Executive Vice President of Strategic Alliances.