Comments on: Former Yahoo Tech Star Qi Lu Likely to Be Named Microsoft's Digital Head by Next Week

By: It’s Opposite Day: Yahoo Grabs a Microsoft Exec! | Kara Swisher | BoomTown | AllThingsD

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:48:16 +0000

[...] manager of Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Search Technology Center. Then, Yahoo search scientist Qi Lu followed him, tapped as president of Microsoft’s Online Services Group. And, soon after that, [...]

By: Digital Management Musical Chairs: The Tooth-Free Edition [BoomTown] | UpOff.com

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:30:36 +0000

[...] Yahoo search techie Qi Lu now runs digital for Microsoft (MSFT), along with a big gang of ex-Yahoo techies he has [...]

By: Microsoft Lures More Yahoo Execs | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:38:16 +0000

[...] manager of Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Search Technology Center. Then Yahoo search scientist Qi Lu followed him after being tapped as president of Microsoft’s Online Services Group. Soon after [...]

By: Microsoft Acquiring Yahoo One Employee at a Time | John Paczkowski | Digital Daily | AllThingsD

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:11:52 +0000

[...] manager of Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Search Technology Center. Then Yahoo search scientist Qi Lu followed him, tapped as president of Microsoft’s Online Services Group. And soon after that [...]

By: BoomTown Decodes Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s Memo on New Digital Guru, Qi Lu (So You Don’t Have To) | Kara Swisher | BoomTown | AllThingsD

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:18:39 +0000

[...] someone, as this column reported earlier today before the official announcement, was former Yahoo (YHOO) tech star Qi Lu. He will become president [...]

By: Microsoft Confirms Qi Lu Hired As Digital Chief; McAndrews Out | Kara Swisher | BoomTown | AllThingsD

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:43:02 +0000

[...] moved up its announcement of former Yahoo tech star Qi Lu as its digital head, after BoomTown reported the selection this morning. Microsoft digital ad head Brian McAndrews, who had also wanted the job, is [...]

By: Sam Harrison

Sam Harrison — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:17:39 +0000

Lu was the guy who led Yahoo to a *decline* in search market share and you call him a star?

How is he a “tech star” when his efforts failed to increase Yahoo’s search results?

I view this the other way: Lu was at Yahoo for 10 years where he couldn’t lead the company to being competitive with Google or MSN.

In the bigger picture, it looks like Microsoft is doing a “soft merger” by hiring Yahoo employees away. Cheaper than the previous bid and no Yang or Icahn to mess with. Good move by Ballmer.

In the even bigger picture, however, this sort of executive poaching is not going to change Microsoft’s future at all. These hires will quickly fade away into the Redmond throng where their work will be as impactful as one engineer screwing in a lightbulb in the restroom.

Newsflash for Microsoft: you don’t have the guts to really hire the mavericks needed to create a winning digital effort.

After 15 years of trying you have failed to win Microsoft.

After 14 years of trying, Yahoo let its lead slip and it now also will go down hard. Harder than Microsoft since Microsoft has Windows and Office to pay its bills.

Yahoo has “free email”

Hoo haa.