Microsoft Hires Ask.com CEO

Steve Berkowitz, CEO of Ask.com, has been hired by Microsoft to head MSN's OnLine Business Group, which includes include MSN.com, MSNTV and MSN Internet Access programming, advertising sales, business development, and marketing for Live Platforms, MSN and Windows Live.

Steve Berkowitz has been responsible for many changes at Ask.com, including a cleaner interface and better search results, that were the reason for the recent gains in traffic and revenue. "Steve is an accomplished senior executive with a rich skill set, including consumer brand building, media, marketing, operations, people management, finance, and technology. He also brings a great blend of start-up and high growth business experiences. Prior to joining Ask, Steve was the President and COO of IDG Books, where he successfully built a consumer brand by expanding the "Dummies" series of books to cover topics ranging from C++ to pet care." said Kevin Johnson, Microsoft's copresident of the platforms & services division.

In January 2006, MSN Search market share in the US was 13.5%, while Ask market share was 6.0%.