Ron Markezich, VP of managed solutions at Microsoft, and a former CIO at the company, said he isn't involved in the search for a new CIO.Markezich said Microsoft still hasn't hired a CIO to replace Stuart Scott, who was fired earlier this month for "violation of company policies," according to a release last week from the company. When asked what policies Scott had violated, Markezich replied "no comment." He said he was surprised when he learned of Scott's dismissal.

Markezich said Microsoft is looking both internally and externally for a CIO candidate. "The CIO is an important role, and the key thing is hiring the right person," he said. Asked if there was a timetable to get a new CIO into the position, Markezich said he didn't know. "I'm not involved in the process," he said.

Markezich joined Microsoft in 1998 from Accenture. He was appointed CIO in 2004. In a somewhat unusual arrangement, he shared that position with Scott when Scott joined Microsoft in 2005 from GE, where he had been a divisional CIO. Markezich eventually moved into his current role, where he is responsible for Microsoft's online services strategy.

Asked if he might go back to being CIO, Markezich answered he had "no plans" to move into the CIO role. "I'm very much focused on my job," he said.

Markezich gave the keynote speech at the CIOhio 2007 conference in Columbus on Thursday,