Microsoft restructures search operations

Jeff Kelisky, formerly CEO of Multimap, has been appointed as General Manager of commercial search to lead the worldwide business for commercial search. 

The new commercial search arm includes features such as cashback, MSN shopping, local, consumer mapping, Virtual Earth and mobile. 

Kelisky will report to Brad Goldberg, General Manager of the Search Business Unit based in Redmond, U.S. and will manage a global team including Jim Cruickshank who was recently appointed Director of mapping, local and shopping for Microsoft, EMEA.

Kelisky will lead the new businesss team to plan and deliver a strategy for maximizing market growth, revenue, and long term shareholder value for Microsoft Corp.

Kelisky joined Multimap in 2000 and directed the business to become the leading online mapping brand in Europe acquired by Microsoft Corp’s Online Services Group in December, 2007. 

Brad Goldberg, General Manager of the Search Business Unit, Microsoft, said: “Microsoft is significantly investing in our search engine, on a worldwide basis because it is a critical area for us and we have unique assets we can apply to it. We are increasing our focus on commercial search, including changes to the search leadership team and engineering team and in order to lead this market we need to bring all find, explore and commerce needs together. 

“We have selected Jeff Kelisky to lead this because he brings a wealth of general management and online experience – in particular understanding how navigation relates to search, local services, businesses, and mobile.  He will direct this team to ensure Microsoft continues to innovate and deliver so that consumers choose us to find local information and services.”

Jeff Kelisky, GM of Commercial Search added: ‘We developed Multimap to be a very successful global business based in the UK - culminating in the sale to Microsoft - which in fact shares very similar values, objectives and beliefs about the role of mapping and location for businesses and consumers.  Microsoft has the resources to take what we’ve started and combine it with its other assets to be the market leader in searches that address the needs of not just ‘find’ but also the ‘research’, ‘exploration’, and ‘transaction’ phases of a user journey. 

“This is a key strategic push from Microsoft to deliver customers new and innovative services to help when they are researching or buying a product or service online and I will lead the business to drive better differentiation and choice in search marketing for consumers and advertisers.”

Jeff Kelisky joined Multimap in 2000 as the company’s seventh employee.  He became Chief Executive in 2002 where he devised and implemented the operating strategy, structure and processes.