Microsoft promotes from within

Microsoft promoted seven executives to vice president as part of the software maker's drive to extend its technologies to the Internet.

The applications and content group named the following vice presidents: Robbie Bach, marketing, desktop applications division; Lewis Levin, desktop finance division; and Rick Thompson, input devices group.

The platforms group named the following vice presidents: Brad Chase, vice president, developer relations and marketing, Internet platform and tools division; Moshe Dunie, engineering general management, desktop business and systems division; Rich Tong, marketing and training, desktop and business systems division; and David Vaskevitch, database and transaction products, desktop, and business systems division.

"Their ongoing efforts will be instrumental as we work toward extending our current and future technologies to the Internet," CEO Bill Gates said.