Microsoft Steve Berkowitz upstaged by Ms. Dewey, LIVE in the Big Apple

Steve Berkowitz is senior vice president of the Microsoft Online Services Group, responsible for marketing, sales and business development related to Microsoft's online services, including MSN.com and Windows Live. As such, Ms. Dewey reports to him. Nevertheless, she took great pleasure today in barreling onstage in the middle of Berkowitz’s Q & A keynote a the Search Engine Strategies Conference underway in Manhattan.

Danny Sullivan, Berkowitz’ questioner, reacted surprised; Berkowitz, of course, was loving every over the top moment of Ms. Dewey’s live from New York performance.

Berkowitz played off of Ms. Dewey’s vivacious personality to underscore “it is all about the UI,” the Microsoft UI that is, "delivering information to consumers in different ways."

Berkowitz described Ms. Dewey as a “marketing program we developed several months ago,” saying she can be found and engaged with at Ms. Dewey.com. I took Berkowitz up on his suggestion moments ago, but Ms. Dewey apparently has a more coy personality online; I was greeted not by the bubbly, attractive Ms. Dewey showcased on stage, but by a black screen with the unfriendly message “Ms. Dewey Website requires the Macomedia Flash player, a free download.”

I didn’t take Ms. Dewey up on her “free download,” but Berkowitz acted receptive to her overtures on stage. Realizing that she was indeed upstaging her boss, Ms. Dewey stroked Berkowitz’ arm, flattering him by noting he “looks leaderly, powerful.“

Ms. Dewey was gunning for authorization for a trip to Paris, not Panama, she slyly noted. Ms. Dewey then made her grand departure from the stage, saying, also slyly, Jeeves just pulled my car around.

Ms. Dewey had no sly insider reference about the number one search engine, however, Google.

In making her dramatic exit, Ms. Dewey declared she is off to rule the world.

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