Microsoft confirmed Thursday that it has indeed hired Yahoo search executive Sean Suchter, following speculation this week that he would be joining the software maker after his departure from Yahoo was announced.
"We are very pleased to confirm that Sean Suchter will be joining Microsoft as the GM of our Silicon Valley Search Technology Center, working on Live Search," Microsoft search head Satya Nadella said in a statement. Suchter, who starts work December 22, will report to Harry Shum, corporate vice president of Search Product Development.
The poaching comes as CEO Steve Ballmer reiterated at Microsoft's shareholder meeting Wednesday that it has no interest in buying all of Yahoo, though it remains open to a search partnership.
Microsoft would not comment on a report that another former Yahoo search executive, Qi Lu, is under consideration to head Microsoft's online efforts.
Microsoft may no longer be looking to buy Yahoo outright, but I'm guessing it is not averse to picking up some of its talent.
Valleywag reported on Wednesday that Sean Suchter, a top search executive at Yahoo, is leaving the company and speculated that he is headed to Microsoft. Kara Swisher, at All Things Digital, says she's hearing the same thing.
The move comes the same week as Yahoo announced that Jerry Yang will step down as soon as the company finds his replacement.
Suchter's colleagues didn't try to sugarcoat the news of his departure, according to an e-mail posted by Valleywag.
"Unfortunately, I have to give some bad news to you," Tuoc Luong wrote in a note to folks on the Yahoo search team. "Sean Suchter has resigned. Sean's last day will be December 19th. Some of you will find this news shocking given that Sean has been a Gibraltar rock at Yahoo and in particular for the Search team. I understand this."
Then again, if Steve Ballmer gets his way, maybe Microsoft will end up as Yahoo's search partner and Suchter will be reunited with his colleagues.
No official comment yet from either Microsoft or Yahoo.
Update 11:45 a.m. PST: Yahoo confirms he's leaving.
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