Nabbed!
Facebook has nabbed Microsoft's global advertising head, Carolyn Everson in a move that could put a strain on the two companies' relationship.
Everson will become VP of global sales at Facebook after only joining Microsoft in June after a long search, according to The WSJ.
It is thought that the move will cause awkwardness between the 2 firms as Microsoft is an important partner and investor in Facebook.
Facebook's COO, Sheryl Sandberg, reportedly said: "Microsoft was one of our earliest partners and is still one of our most valued. We have a long and strong relationship that includes search ads on our site, a social layer on Bing search results and a deep and popular integration with Xbox. They are a leader when it comes to unlocking the power of social for their already popular products and services. We look forward to continuing to expand our relationship with them."
However, there is no comment from the Microsoft camp yet.
The WSJ reported that sources said the former MTV ad exec had become frustrated by Microsoft's obsession with pushing traffic to Bing from its MSN portal, which was costing it premium ad sales.
It is also thought that the advertising partnership between Microsoft and Yahoo! meant that Everson was unable to sell search advertising from Microsoft to marketers in bundles.
Getting a name like Everson will likely help Facebook's fabled IPO bid expected next year. She will take over from ad exec Mike Murphy who left the social network last Autumn and report to David Fischer, VP of advertising and global operations- and formerly of Google fame of course.
According to the newspaper, Facebook's share of online display advertising quadrupled under Murphy and Fischer to grab around 14 percent of the $9bn US market at the expense of old powerhouses like Yahoo! and AOL.
