Microsoft Veteran Converts to AOL

Michael Wehrs, the former director of Business and Industry Development at Microsoft Corp., has been recruited by AOL in the new position of Chief Technical Evangelist. With the Redmond Company, Wehrs was responsible for gathering outside industry support for technical development based on the upcoming Windows Vista platform. The 40 year old new AOL Chief Technical Evangelist will, in his new role, take over the company's wireless and mobile efforts. His responsibilities will also include representing AOL's wireless platform and its related products along with acting as spokesman and technical advisor for the industry. Wehrs will also focus on enabling partner, industry and governmental relationships that would translate into marketable strategies.

"AOL is at a tremendously opportunistic time in their growth, especially in the mobile side of things," said Wehrs, explaining that he parted ways with Microsoft on amicable terms. The Redmond Company has not commented Wehrs' move to AOL, but also did not oppose his departure. In this regard it seems that Vista will not be affected in any way by Wehrs' absence as the focus for the upcoming operating system will now shift on marketing. Wehrs' departure adds to a series of similar moves from Microsoft executives that have spawned speculations about a revamp at the top of Microsoft, one that even affected Bill Gates.