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Microsoft losing acquisition playmaker

Bruce Jaffe, who spearheaded the software giant's acquisitions activity, will leave the company in February.

Tom Krazit Former Staff writer, CNET News
Tom Krazit writes about the ever-expanding world of Google, as the most prominent company on the Internet defends its search juggernaut while expanding into nearly anything it thinks possible. He has previously written about Apple, the traditional PC industry, and chip companies. E-mail Tom.
Tom Krazit

Microsoft will need to find a new point person for its acquisitions strategy after confirming that Bruce Jaffe is moving on.

Bruce Jaffe, corporate vice president for corporate development at Microsoft Microsoft

Jaffe will remain as vice president of corporate development until the end of February. Valleywag first reported his departure on Wednesday, suggesting he was off to found his own start-up in Silicon Valley. Marketwatch was able to confirm Jaffe's departure with Microsoft representatives, but didn't shed any light on his future plans.

Microsoft just announced its intention to acquire Fast Search and Transfer, an enterprise search company, for $1.2 billion, meaning somebody else will probably have to help wrap up that deal. Last year, the company acquired Aquantive for $6 billion, Tellme for around $800 million, and invested $240 million in Facebook.

In a previous life Jaffe was the CFO for Microsoft's MSN division, and also had roles overseeing acquisitions related to Microsoft's consumer business, groups like MSNBC and Microsoft Games. He's been living in Seattle, but has roots in the Bay Area with an undergraduate degree from Cal and an M.B.A. from Stanford. That must make for an interesting Big Game weekend every year.