Windows Live China Managing Director Leaves Microsoft

After spending over a year with Microsoft, Li Gong, managing director of Windows Live China and Vice President of Microsoft China R&D Group has announced that he will be transitioning out of his present roles within two weeks.

The Redmond Company has confirmed the news but failed to elaborate on the issue. Microsoft only announced that Li Gong's position will be taken by the senior director for Windows Live China Shanghai: Friedbert Wall.

�Li Gong is currently exploring other career opportunities,� Microsoft revealed to CNET. �Microsoft greatly appreciates Li's contribution to Windows Live China and supports his decision. We believe that the leadership, strong team and long term commitment to innovation will continue to drive Microsoft forward in China.�

Li Gong has worked in the past as Chief Architect and Engineering Director for Java Security and Networking, Java Embedded Server, and JXTA following which he moved to Sun Microsystems's Engineering and Research Institute based in Beijing, China, as managing director.

From Sun, Li Gong was snapped by Microsoft in 2005. At that time, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talked enthusiastically about the new talent that had been added to the company. IN this context, Ballmer mentioned three names of Ray Ozzie, Gary Flake and Li Gong. At the time Li Gong had began working with Microsoft's MSN China team.

If Microsoft limited the statement related to Li Gong's departure by saying that the former Windows Live China Managing director was exploring alternative career opportunities, Li Gong himself did not disclose any details related to his future plans. However, in the past, Google has showed an interest in Gong and there exists the possibility that the Mountain View Company will make Li Gong an offer.