Summary: Microsoft guy put in charge of Neocleus, Microsoft VP to chair Emmy Awards, and more

A WEEK ago we showed how Microsoft uses "insiders" to put companies within Microsoft's grip (Microsoft calls it the "insider friend, ‘the fox’"). This was based on a presentation from Microsoft, appropriately marked "HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL". We are now seeing this press release about Les Yetton becoming the president and CEO of Neocleus. It is the history of Les Yetton which is worth paying attention to:

Yetton's leadership and industry experience spans more than two decades. He boasts a strong track record of successfully building companies, motivating teams, and cultivating customer and partner relationships. Most recently, Yetton worked for Desktone as Executive Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Prior to Desktone, he was Director of Business Development for Microsoft in the Windows Management and Solutions Division, following Microsoft's acquisition of Softricity in July 2006. Recruited to Softricity in 2000, Yetton was involved in all facets of Softricity's business, including formulating and driving the company strategy, building lasting customer and partner relationships, and establishing that company's services organization. Yetton played a key role on the executive management team: re-positioning and restructuring the company for the enterprise market and was a catalyst for helping the company to achieve the leadership position in the application virtualization arena. He was the lead executive responsible for Softricity's business relationship with Microsoft, which ultimately led to Softricity's acquisition by Microsoft in July 2006.

There are some other new observations of inside influence

Blair Westlake, the corporate VP of Microsoft’s Media & Entertainment Group, will serve as the Gala Chair of this year's International Emmy Awards, which take place on November 23 in New York City.

The above may seem relatively benign, but issues remain that cause concern, especially since Microsoft loves to embrace and extend other people's events, companies, and products. For example from the news, here is Ashley Highfield again taking cheap shots at Microsoft's competition now that he left the BBC and joined Microsoft.

TV facing 'iTunes moment' warns Microsoft's Ashley Highfield

Television industry must act soon or face losing control of its online presence to brand such as Apple, says Highfield

The damage Highfield has already caused to the BBC would be hard to measure. ⬆

"We have 17.1 million users of bbc.co.uk in the UK and, as far as our server logs can make out, 5 per cent of those [use Macs] and around 400 to 600 are Linux users."

--Ashley Highfield (back in his BBC days)