One of Microsoft’s top executives in China has jumped ship and joined Chinese search giant Baidu, creating a bit of a setback for the company in the region. Zhang Yaqin was Microsoft’s vice president and chairman of its Asian-Pacific research and development group but he has decided to join Baidu as their president for new business.
Zhang is a high-profile Microsoft executive who has been involved in the county’s emerging research and development scene. In fact, Zhang was on Microsoft’s executive management committee, advising on Microsoft’s China strategy.
This sudden move comes in light of the recent challenges Microsoft has been facing in China. If you haven’t been following, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) has been questioning Microsoft in an anti-monopoly investigation, and suspects that it has not fully disclosed issues relating to the compatibility. China raised its concerns over the bundling of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player with Windows — an accusation which was rather popular in the 90s.
Microsoft did not have a comment regarding Zhang’s departure.
