MS exec departs

The former Microsoft executive responsible for marketing Windows Live -- a new series of services similar to Google's collection of tools -- has left the company in an unusual manner. Microsoft refused to offer reasons for Martin Taylor's departure, who worked at the software giant for 13 years. Taylor was scheduled to give interviews Monday about the release of Windows Live Messenger, but was reportedly bumped from a flight out of Dallas on Sunday night where he had to wait on standby, according to The Seattle Times. "This is not a normal type of exit," said Rob Horwitz, CEO of analysis firm Directions on Microsoft. "[...] [This] is pretty odd to have someone center stage in press releases and stuff one day and removed from the Web site the next day."

by MacNN Staff