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Microsoft nabs Yahoo data center executive

In the latest purple-badge-to-blue-badge transition, Yahoo VP Kevin Timmons is joining Microsoft to lead data center services.

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 has grabbed another Yahoo executive.

Operations Vice President Kevin Timmons becomes the latest to swap Yahoo purple for Microsoft blue. In his new role, Timmons will lead a data center services team, Microsoft infrastructure services general manager Arne Josefsberg said in a blog posting.

In February, Microsoft announced it was hiring Larry Heck, another VP from Yahoo. Other defectors include Microsoft online unit chief Qi Lu, along with Sean Suchter and Scott Moore (who was actually a former Microsoft worker who went to Yahoo and is now back at Microsoft).

Microsoft has said it no longer wants to acquire all of Yahoo, though clearly the company is happy to continue hiring talent from the online company. CEO Steve Ballmer has also continued to press for some sort of search partnership between the two companies.

At last month's D: All Things Digital conference, Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz confirmed the two companies continue to talk, but analysts say a deal is looking less likely.