Microsoft Acquires Yahoo…VP of Ops

Add another name to the list of Yahoo employees defecting to Microsoft. Dayne Sampson, Yahoo’s VP of operations for search and advertising, has fled the company for its former suitor, Microsoft confirmed to Digital Daily. He’s taken a job in Redmond’s Global Foundation Services division, the group charged with supporting Microsoft’s (MSFT) MSN and Windows Live branded services. He’ll be reporting to Debra Chrapaty, the division’s corporate VP.

“We’re very excited to have Dayne Sampson join the team, reporting to Debra Chrapaty, corporate vice president, Global Foundation Services,” a Microsoft spokesperson commented about the hire. “Operations and foundation services are key to delivering the Microsoft Software plus Services vision, and Dayne’s extensive operations and industry experience will be a strong asset for GFS and the company.”

Sampson’s departure follows similar migrations by Sean Suchter, Yahoo’s VP of search technology; Qi Lu, one of its top search scientists; Larry Heck, former VP of search & advertising sciences at Yahoo Labs; and Jan Pedersen, who was once chief scientist and VP of Yahoo’s (YHOO) Search and Advertising Technology Group. As I said last week, If Yahoo employee defections to Microsoft continue apace, there may come a day when Redmond will no longer need to buy the struggling company’s search business. It will already have acquired it.

Oh, one last thing: time to update that LinkedIn profile, Dayne…