Microsoft merger specialist Songhurst is staying put

Here's a quick update to a post from earlier this year.

At the start of calendar 2011, there were reports that Microsoft was losing two of its key merger and acquisition specialists. But it turns out one of the two is sticking around, after all.

I received a tip from one of my Wall Street chums last week that  Microsoft General Manager of Corporate Strategy Charles Songhurst was still at Microsoft. After a few checks, I confirmed that Songhurst is still there. And from what I hear, he's not leaving any time soon.

Songhurst played a key role in Microsoft's derailed attempt to buy Yahoo. His planned departure had been rumored for a while, according to folks with whom I spoke, and wasn't all that surprising, given that Microsoft hasn't been doing many acquisitions, as of late. When rumors of Songhurst's departure were circulating, Microsoft officials refused to confirm or deny that he was leaving the company.

Whatever happened in the interim, at least one of the individuals in the line of Softies seeking/believed to be seeking the nearest exit isn't abandoning ship.