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Microsoft loses another ad executive

The latest departure is Carol Koh Evans, the general manager of the software maker's in-game advertising unit. Evans is headed to wedding site The Knot.

Ina Fried Former Staff writer, CNET News
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley.
Ina Fried

Microsoft confirmed on Monday that the general manager of its in-game advertising unit is leaving to become chief operating officer at The Knot, a wedding-related Web site.

Carol Koh Evans, a former investment banker, worked at The Knot before joining Microsoft several years ago. At Microsoft, she worked in corporate development before taking over the Massive unit, following its 2006 acquisition by Microsoft.

Evans is the latest departure from Microsoft's advertising ranks. In March, MSN ad sales executive Joanne Bradford announced she was leaving for a post at Spot Runner.

Also slated to depart the company is Steven Berkowitz, the former Ask.com CEO who had served as senior vice president for Microsoft's online efforts.

Microsoft might have had an abundance of executives with advertising backgrounds had its deal to buy Yahoo not fallen through. However, with the company now focused on internal efforts to boost the business, it will be interesting to see if the company tries to bring in some outsiders to boost its now thinner ad ranks.