Summary: Microsoft makes marketing moves in Great Britain, StorageCraft adds Microsoft influence, and former Microsoft staff becomes CEO of the "Final Fantasy" maker

MICROSOFT and Samsung may soon have some more overlap. "Microsoft has hired senior European Samsung executive Mikah Martin-Cruz as chief marketing officer for its UK operation," says The Guardian, as well as other British publications [1, 2, 3] and international ones. Who is it that must have left Microsoft then? Either way, when it comes to marketing/PR agencies at Microsoft, this often involves AstroTurfing and other unethical methods. We gave many examples before.

At Microsoft, it's all about marketing and not execution. A lot of the time that company sells mediocre products or forces people to buy them, e.g. using bundling deals. "Glam Media Names Microsoft Exec Loring UK MD," says another report with interesting details: "Women’s web network Glam Media is appointing Jane Loring its UK managing director.

"Loring is director of specialist sales at Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Advertising in the UK, responsible for industry, product and syndication including Facebook ads, network business, search and creative solutions, Glam says."

“Some other companies, Juniper for example, appears to have been occupied by Microsoft veterans at many levels including CEO position.”Where it says "Facebook ads", does it include AstroTurfing like this? Earlier today we remarked on the special relationship between Facebook and Microsoft. "GetJar Hires X-Microsoft Executive to Spearhead UK Sales," says another news report. What is it with Microsoft marketing in the UK? Not enough brainwash already?

Microsoft is trying to get across the message that it's a fundamental part of "computers". Many regular guests at this show called "Let's Talk Computers" are from Microsoft too, but we rarely point this out when this is seen by Techrights. These people are everywhere and they tend to promote the One Microsoft Way (Microsoft has a different, unique, and competition-hostile way of doing just about anything in computing).

The Australian reveals that "StorageCraft snares Microsoft expert as technical services manager" and says that the company "has lured a renowned specialist in Microsoft technology for the role of Asia-Pacific technical services general manager." This is something to watch out for in case they become more Windows-oriented in their product.

Some other companies, Juniper for example, appear to have been occupied by Microsoft veterans at many levels including CEO position [1, 2, 3]. Entryism may be one way to explain the Windows-oriented activities at this company (whose CEO was a top Microsoft executive just a few years ago, before he surrounded himself with former Microsoft colleagues inside Juniper, just like in VM_Bware).

Juniper aside, watch who becomes the new CEO of the Final Fantasy maker. Yes, its a former Microsoft chief (marketer). Might there be Xbox 360 focus in the future and no support for other consoles/platforms in the next version? Let's hope not. Xbox 360 will be the main subject of the next few posts. ⬆