Former Microsoft mobile chief joins Vodafone

Pieter Knook, long-time head of Microsoft's mobile business -- and one of the Softies moved off the Microsoft org chart as of Microsoft's Valentine's Day corporate reorg -- is joining Vodafone Group.

Knook is set to join Vodafone on March 10, where he will lead a new unit delivering consumer Internet services.

Knook leaves Microsoft at a time when the Redmond software maker is trying to beef up its own consumer phone presence. Earlier this week, Microsoft bought Danger Inc., the developer of the Sidekick, in a move Microsoft executives have characterized as Microsoft's first major strike into the consumer-focused mobile space.

Knook, who was responsible for coordinating Microsoft's mobile strategy across the company, also leaves at a time when Microsoft has fallen behind mobile-phone-newcomer Apple in both worldwide and U.S. mobile-market share.

Taking over for Knook is Andrew Lees, Microsoft Corporate Vice President for its Server & Tools Marketing and Solutions Group. I'm not sure what Lees knows about consumer/mobile markets, but he's got a lot of management experience....