VMware picks up yet another former Softie

At the rate it's going, VMware is going to be Microsoft's alumni clubhouse No. 1.

On March 24, VMware announced it had hired former Softie Richard McAniff as Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer. McAniff will be responsible for R&D for VMware's Server and Desktop Business Units and will report to yet another former Microsoft exec, VMware CEO Paul Maritz.

McAniff quietly left Microsoft at the end of 2008. He was at Microsoft for 21 years and oversaw big chunks of Microsoft's Office business. He also was responsible for Microsoft's business-intelligence push inside Office; and the development of Web components for SharePoint Portal Server.

Other former Microsoft execs now with VMware and/or EMC (in addition to Maritz and McAniff): Charles Fitzgerald and Todd Nielsen.

If VMware keeps snapping up former Microsoft folks, I'll be able to do an "All About VMware" blog in my sleep. (Don't worry, Maritz & Co.: Just a joke....)