Greg Linden points to this Seattle PI article on executive reshuffling at Microsoft search. Chris Payne, who originally convinced Bill Gates that he could lead the effort to build a "Google-Killer" is leaving.

The Microsoft Corp. executive who led the company's challenge to Google is leaving the company.

Christopher Payne, the corporate vice president for Microsoft's Live Search initiative, plans to launch a Seattle-based technology firm unrelated to the search business

...

The company on Wednesday announced an executive reshuffling that includes bringing Brad Goldberg, a marketing general manager from the Windows division, into the Windows Live group. Earlier this week, Blake Irving, another Windows Live corporate vice president, told others at the company that he plans to retire later this year.

Linden, in the understatement-of-the-year so far, calls Payne's efforts to build a Google Killer: "largely unsuccessful".

PS. Be sure to put your vote in my death pool on the Live.com name.

Labels: microsoft

¶ 3/08/2007