Im happy to announce several important leadership changes for Microsoft Advertising & Online )A&O( in Europe. These appointments will help Microsoft grow and drive long-term success of our advertising business across Western Europe. Effective immediately, Andy Hart is the new VP, A&O Europe. In this newly created role, Andy will bring a consolidated voice of the field and customers in Europe to our headquarters in the Seattle area. In addition,

Im pleased to share that, effective immediately, Stephen Kim is Vice President of Microsoft Advertising Global Agencies and Accounts. Stephen started in digital advertising 15 years ago and has spent the last decade at Microsoft working in close partnership with agencies, brands and publishers. He is passionate about digital advertising and our industry. At Microsoft, Stephen has led our efforts in a range of areas including research, marketing, branded entertainment,

The turning of the New Year is a good time to look ahead. As we start into 2013, we are excited about the shifts in the digital advertising industry. Banners and buttons are turning into more native experiences. Marketers are creating content that people want to interact with, leading to brand building. Buying and selling is possible with less friction, and more efficiency. All this and more is setting the stage for our industry to grow.

Today we are excited to share that as of October 26, when Windows 8 became globally available , Microsoft Advertising had signed on more than 25 brands from around the world for Windows 8 Ads in Apps campaigns. Our teams across various countries have signed on numerous advertisers across a range of verticals from autos to entertainment, beauty to banking, beverages to technology.

Frank Holland, Ronaldo & Sir Martin Sorrell in Cannes Next to the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup is one of the most-watched international sporting events with some of the most passionate fans from all around the world. A captive and engaged global audience is any marketers dream, but how can brands effectively tap into this buzz and excitement to gain valuable brand equity?

As we head into the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity this year, Im excited to meet with customers and industry leaders to engage in conversations around the next chapter of digital advertising. As a company, Microsoft has momentum with new consumer products that have the marketplace buzzing including Windows 8, Xbox, Bing, Windows Phone and Skype. Technology advances are opening new opportunities for innovative,

Having just returned from my first CES, I want to share some of my key observations from an advertising perspective. · I was struck most by the incredible density of both brand clients and agency partners in attendance. Marketers and advertisers are hungry to understand how technology can help them tell their story with more consumers. · The attendees were a whos who of brand marketers rarely seen together outside of the Cannes Lions Festival.

The following has been cross-posted from the Global Microsoft Advertising Blog . With a New Year approaching, we typically take time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the coming one. For me, Ive been taking stock of my first six months in this role and the world of digital advertising. In the conversations Ive had with advertisers, publishers and agency partners since May,