Microsoft Hires ex-Times Online Editor to New Leadership Team

Microsoft Hires ex-Times Online Editor to New Leadership Team

Reading – UK– 8th December 2006 - Former Online Editorial Director of The Times and The Sunday Times, Peter Bale joins this week as Executive Producer of the UK’s Online Services Group. Bale will be responsible for content on platforms including MSN and Windows Live and report to new General Manager, Sharon Baylay.In his two years at News Corporation, Bale was heralded for growing the TimesOnline.co.uk audience from 1.5 million to 9 million. A former correspondent and senior editor at Reuters, Bale was also the founding managing editor of FTMarketWatch and has also run his own new media consultancy.

In his two years at News Corporation, Bale was heralded for growing the TimesOnline.co.uk audience from 1.5 million to 9 million. A former correspondent and senior editor at Reuters, Bale was also the founding managing editor of FTMarketWatch and has also run his own new media consultancy.

Bale joins as a key member of Baylay’s new leadership team which comprises heads of Sales, MSN, Windows Live Services and Business Development. In her first six months in the role, Baylay is creating a new senior team to deliver world class online experiences, industry-leading advertising solutions and an innovative and cutting edge platform for 3rd party partnerships.

They consist of a new Group Marketing Director, Alex Payne and a new Chief of Staff, Kate Isler, who join MSN veteran, Commercial Director Chris Ward.

Leadership Team Hires

Alex Payne joined on Nov 1 as Group Marketing Director, and is responsible for building Microsoft’s short and long-term consumer marketing strategy for Windows Live and MSN. He is in charge of all product and marketing strategy and planning, as well as execution of the plans in the UK.

Payne has joined from Microsoft’s Online Services Group in Redmond where he was working in the product management team and brings a very rich and varied set of experiences with him. He joined Microsoft in June 2000 as a product planner on the MSN media business and after pioneering the first rich media advertisement on the MSN.com home page, Payne developed the UAP, a US industry standard for online ad formats, following through with the release of MSN9, the first advertiser-focused network release we’d made in the US.

Kate Isler joined Microsoft’s UK Online Services Group on Nov 13 as Chief of Staff. In her new role Isler will focus on business planning and analysis, internal culture and communications and will take responsibility for several programs and initiatives including the company’s imminent move to Victoria in February. Isler joined the UK team from the Microsoft Central and Eastern European region (CEE) where she was the manager of Mid Market and Solution Partners.

Ex-Apple AU VP Heads Up Microsoft Online Services Group

Also announced today, Sharon Baylay will report to Steve Vamos as VP of Online Services Group International. Formally CEO of Microsoft Australia, Vamos will be responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of the business.

Before leading the team in Australia, Vamos was Chief Executive Officer at ninemsn, a joint venture between Microsoft Corporation and PBL. During his five years in that role, he reshaped the company from start-up to achieving its position as the Australian online media industry leader.

Prior to Microsoft, Vamos was Vice President of Apple Computer Inc and spent 14 years with IBM Australia in a number of sales, marketing and general management positions.

About Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions

Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions is a robust set of global advertising products and services designed to effectively connect advertisers with their target audiences across multiple digital touch points. Advertisers can actively engage with their consumers through a suite of high-impact advertising products and platforms, reaching a global audience of more than 465 million unique users per month across the MSN network, as well as millions more through Windows Live, Xbox, Microsoft Office and Live Search. Advertisers can feel confident they will achieve measurable results through groundbreaking research, advertising innovation, strategic planning and excellence in execution. More information about Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions is available at http://advertising.microsoft.com.

About MSN and Windows Live

MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localised versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live™, a new set of personal internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the web. MSN and Windows Live will be offered alongside each other as complementary services. Some Windows Live services entered an early beta phase on Nov. 1, 2005; these and future beta updates can be found at http://ideas.live.com. MSN is located on the web at http://www.msn.com. MSN® worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.aspx

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

Contact information

Journalists should contact The Microsoft Press Centre. Telephone 0870 20 77377, lines are open 9.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

Customer enquiries should be directed to Microsoft on 0870 6010 100. Opening hours are 8.00am to 6.00pm.

Top of page