Microsoft Pri0

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February 10, 2009 5:08 PM

Microsoft's new communications head is Simon Sproule, formerly of Nissan

Posted by Benjamin J. Romano

Simon Sproule begins March 2 as corporate vice president of corporate communications for Microsoft, filling a role that has been vacant since Larry Cohen left the company last year to become Bill Gates' chief of staff, the company announced this afternoon. Sproule, 40, will report to Mich Matthews, senior vice president of the Central Marketing Group at Microsoft.

Sproule comes to Microsoft from Nissan Motor Co., where he was corporate vice president of Global Communications and Investor Relations for nearly five years. According to his Nissan bio, Sproule was responsible for "design and implementation of corporate communications strategies, investor relations, product introductions and internal communications for Nissan worldwide." He was based at the car maker's Tokyo, Japan, global headquarters, but also has a residence in Laguna Beach, Calif.

At Microsoft, he will be responsible for "defining and managing Microsoft's communications strategies worldwide, including planning and execution, public affairs, media relations, executive communications, employee communications, and global agency management."