Microsoft shuffles online executives

Microsoft Corp. did some shuffling of its executive ranks Thursday, just weeks after making a bid to buy web giant Yahoo Inc.

Among the biggest changes were in the online services group, which would be blended with Yahoo if a merger takes place.

The Redmond-based software giant (NASDAQ: MSFT) announced that Steve Berkowitz will step down as senior vice president of the online services group. Berkowitz, a former Ask.com executive, will remain with Microsoft until the end of August 2008, the company said.

Microsoft executives Bill Veghte, Satya Nadella and Brian McAndrews will take an expanded role in the company's online efforts, which include Windows Live, search and MSN. Veghte and Nadella were promoted to senior vice presidents. McAndrews, who joined Microsoft as part of the company's $6 billion acquisition of online ad firm aQuantive, is already a senior vice president for advertising and publishing.

Veghte, Nadella and McAndrews will continue to report to Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft's platforms and services division.

All told, Microsoft announced 14 executive promotions Thursday, with half being promoted to senior vice president and half to corporate vice president.

Also Thursday, mobile phone firm Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) said it had hired away Microsoft executive Pieter Knook, who ran Microsoft's mobile business.

Microsoft made a $44.6 billion unsolicited offer to buy Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), of Sunnyvale, Calif., about two weeks ago. The move was widely seen as an effort by Microsoft to catch up to rival Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), of Mountain View, Calif., in the web advertising market.