Acquisitions, investment chief leaves Microsoft
SeattlePI | at | by Mike
Microsoft said senior vice president Richard Emerson, who oversaw acquisitions and investments, has left the company. Emerson left Aug. 30, said Rachel Wayne, a spokeswoman for Microsoft at the Waggener Edstrom public-relations company.
Microsoft hired him in November 2000 from Lazard Freres & Co., where he was co-head of technology and telecommunications advisory services. Microsoft has acquired small-business software makers Great Plains Software Inc. and Navision A/S, and game developer Rare Ltd. in the past three years.
Microsoft has never bought a company valued at more than $1.5 billion and has slowed the pace of investments after writing down billions of dollars since 2001.