Microsoft is restructuring its Search Business Group to create a new group focused on commercial search.

Published: 22 Aug 2008

Microsoft is restructuring its Search Business Group to create a new group focused on commercial search.

Jeff Kelisky, formerly CEO of Multimap, has been appointed as General Manager of commercial search to lead the worldwide business for commercial search.

An important strategic development for Microsoft, it includes features such as cashback, MSN shopping, local, consumer mapping, Virtual Earth and mobile.

Kelisky will report to Brad Goldberg, General Manager of the Search Business Unit based in Redmond, US and will manage a global team including Jim Cruickshank, who was recently appointed Director of mapping, local and shopping for Microsoft, EMEA.

Kelisky will lead the new businesss team to plan and deliver a strategy for maximising market growth, revenue, and long term shareholder value for Microsoft Corp.

Goldberg said Microsoft is significantly investing in its search engine, on a worldwide basis because it is a critical area and the company has unique assets, which it can apply.

Kelisky said, "Microsoft has the resources to take what we've started and combine it with its other assets to be the market leader in searches that address the needs of not just 'find' but also the 'research', 'exploration', and 'transaction' phases of a user journey."

Kelisky joined Multimap in 2000. In 2006, Kelisky expanded the executive team and in 2007 restructured Multimap's executive governance to lead a capital restructuring and eventual M&A process that resulted in the successful sale to Microsoft.