[photopress:Li_Gong_ex_Microsoft.jpg,full,alignright]Li Gong, one of Microsoft’s top executives, is leaving Microsoft. Gong said he would be leaving Microsoft almost immediately and that he planned to ‘go home.’ But, other than saying he was coming back to Beijing, he would not discuss his plans.
Microsoft issued the usual PR nonsense, ‘Li Gong is currently exploring other career opportunities’ which means absolutely nothing.
‘Microsoft greatly appreciate 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.’ Which, arguably means less, although there is that reference to Windows Live China which could, just, be seen as being informative.
Li Gong joined Microsoft in 2005 from Sun Microsystems, where he had served as both head of Sun’s China research efforts and as a chief architect of Java. Most recently, Gong has served as managing director of Windows Live China and as vice president of Microsoft China R&D Group.
The software maker said Gong’s responsibilities have been picked up by Friedbert Wall, a 15-year Microsoft veteran. Wall, who was previously the senior director for Windows Live China Shanghai, has been named managing director of Windows Live China.
If one had to bet (and in issues like this one should not) a guess would be that Li Gong will end up with Google which is struggling in China and needs this sort of expertise. It is just possible but not probable.
Source: News.com