Microsoft Completes Acquisition of aQuantive, Creates Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group


      New business group reflects increased focus on online advertising market opportunities.
      
      
      
            
                  
                        
                              
                              
                              
                                    
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            REDMOND, Wash. ? Aug. 13, 2007 ? Microsoft Corp. has completed its acquisition of aQuantive Inc. The acquisition will help Microsoft deliver on its previously outlined goal to provide the advertising industry with a world-class advertising platform across devices and media that will create the best experiences for users, advertisers and publishers.
      Microsoft also created the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions (APS) Group. This new business group will be responsible for building Microsoft?s monetization engine to serve the advertiser and publisher community. The APS team will assume responsibility for building and marketing all ad platforms, including Atlas, DRIVEpm, MSNDR and Microsoft® AdCenter, along with emerging media types such as in-game and mobile ads, and the agency arm Avenue A | Razorfish. The APS group will be run by Brian McAndrews, CEO of aQuantive, who will report directly to Kevin Johnson, president of Microsoft?s Platforms & Services Division (PSD).
      ?Today we take a significant step forward in our ability to capture share of the $40 billion online ad opportunity and the larger $600 billion ad market, which is rapidly shifting to the world of online and IP-served platforms, including TV and gaming,? Johnson said. ?The addition of aQuantive?s technologies and people to the Microsoft portfolio is a core, strategic investment and step forward in our plans to become one of the top two online advertising platforms in the industry.?
      The leadership team reporting to Johnson responsible for Microsoft?s expanding efforts in advertising and audience includes the following:
      
            
                  
                        
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                                          Steve Berkowitz, Online Services Group, is responsible for Microsoft?s ?audience? business and for delivering great end-user online services that attract users and deepen customer engagement. These online services include the MSN.com portal, Windows Live? services and Live Search.
                              
                        
                  
                  
                        
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                                          Brian McAndrews, Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group, is responsible for building the monetization engine to serve the advertising and publishing community.
                              
                        
                  
                  
                        
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                                          Satya Nadella, Search & Advertising Platform Group, is focused on building innovative technologies in search and designing the advertising platform to support Microsoft?s business and customer goals.
                              
                        
                  
            
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