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March 8, 2007

Microsoft's corporate vice president for the MSN Live Search initiative, Christopher Payne, is leaving the company. Payne said he wants to launch a Seattle-based technology firm unrelated to the search business.

Microsoft's Live Search has lost an important market share since it launched its own MSN site two years ago, in an attempt to challenge Google.

A Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment, and Payne wasn't available to take phone calls. A replacement hasn't been announced as of yet.

In 2006, Payne did acknowledged that Microsoft needed to show some good improvement in market share.

He said at the time "I'm hoping this does turn around, without a doubt." He added "we believe that it's still very early in search, and that there's still significant room for differentiation. Prior to this, I don't think we've really gotten enough differentiation in order to win people back."

According to Nielsen//NetRatings' numbers, the number of queries conducted on Microsoft's Live Search engine has remained relatively flat, while Google and Yahoo have risen by about 33 percent and 22 percent, respectively.

Yesterday, Microsoft announced an executive reshuffling that includes bringing Brad Goldberg, a marketing GM from the Windows division, into the Windows Live Search group.

On Monday, Blake Irving, another Windows Live Search corporate v.p., told others at the company that he plans to retire later in 2007.

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Source: Seattle PI