Staples Exec Hired To Lead Windows Mobile Marketing

Microsoft said Wednesday that it has hired a former executive at office-supply retailer Staples to head up marketing efforts for its Windows Mobile brand of software.

Todd Peters, whom Microsoft named corporate VP for mobile communications, was formerly VP for brand management and U.S. retail technology marketing for Staples and helped create the store's familiar "Easy Button" commercials.

Prior to Staples, Peters was a global brand manager at chipmaker Intel.

At Microsoft, Peters will be charged with promoting the company's mobile software brands, including Windows Mobile and Windows Live for Mobile. He will report to Pieter Knook, senior VP of the mobile communications business unit at Microsoft.

The move is the latest turn of what has become a revolving door executive suite at Microsoft.

Within the past month, Microsoft business division president Jeff Raikes, mergers and acquisitions chief Bruce Jaffe, and Windows development VP Rob Short have all disclosed plans to leave the company.

And chairman and co-founder Bill Gates has said he will relinquish full-time duties in July.

On the incoming front, Microsoft said Raikes will be replaced by former Juniper Networks chief operating officer Stephen Elop. And last week, Microsoft named former General Motors chief technology officer Tony Scott to replace fired CIO Stuart Scott.