5 posts and columns on Darren Huston

News Byte

Priceline Hires Microsoft Exec Darren Huston as CEO for Booking.com

in Commerce on September 26, 2011 at 1:57 pm PT

Microsoft executive Darren Huston is leaving his role as corporate VP of the company’s consumer and online organization for the position of CEO of Booking.com, a Priceline company that facilitates hotel reservations worldwide. Priceline announced previously that Booking.com’s CEO Kees Koolen will become chairman. At Microsoft, Huston was responsible for display and search advertising sales for Windows, Windows Phone, MSN, Windows Live, and Bing. Before Microsoft, Huston was an SVP at Starbucks and in charge of acquisitions and new product development.

Wanted: Online Ad Sales Heads for Both Yahoo and Microsoft

in News on March 24, 2010 at 12:04 pm PT

Even though they are two of the Internet’s largest advertising businesses, both Yahoo and Microsoft are without top execs to lead those units. Worse, both are just entering a complex online ad sales and search partnership together, which will require a lot of management firepower. Yahoo’s main online ad sales head just left and Microsoft has been searching for one for a year now. So, here’s the skinny on who is in the running.

Microsoft on the Hunt for a New Head of World-Wide Online Sales, Even as Yahoo Talks Continue

in News on April 30, 2009 at 8:01 am PT

Microsoft is searching for a major executive to run its world-wide online sales, said several sources close to the situation, even as talks with Yahoo about a deal to partner in its search and display advertising businesses continue. “They need to find a way to make money in display,” said one source close to the situation. “Or, I guess, find a way to not lose quite so much.” The software giant has been trying to build its online business for many years now, spending a lot of money and not getting very much traction. Meanwhile, the talks Microsoft has been having with Yahoo about outsourcing its online display sales to the Internet giant, among other scenarios, continue.
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Microsoft Sales Vet Leaves, After Consolidation Post-Qi Lu Hire

in News on December 15, 2008 at 12:51 am PT

In the wake of the changes at Microsoft’s online division, a senior ad sales exec, Bill Shaughnessy, is set to leave his post, the company confirmed. The departure was first reported in Ad Age, which said Shaughnessy’s future plans were undetermined and, in fact, noted it was unclear why the longtime Microsoft staffer of 15 years was leaving. Here’s why: Consolidation.

Microsoft Officially Confirms Qi Lu Hired as Digital Chief; McAndrews Out

in News on December 4, 2008 at 1:36 pm PT

Microsoft moved up its announcement of former Yahoo tech star Qi Lu as its digital head. BoomTown reported on the selection this morning. As part of the changes, Microsoft digital ad head Brian McAndrews, who had also wanted the job, is leaving. Here’s the full release.