Gina Hertel (pictured), the regional marketing director of MSN, is understood to have left the company.
Her departure will end a five and a half year term at Microsoft for Hertel, who joined in September 2002 as regional marketing director, Asia Pacific, Greater China and Japan. A replacement, yet to be announced, is expected to be posted at a more senior Hertel’s departure coincides with the appointment of Jane O’Connell from ninemsn network in Australia as regional director of product planning Asia-Pacific, a newly created role at Microsoft’s online services group.
She will be based out of Singapore and report directly to Charles Hauck, director of worldwide planning.
Separately, Microsoft’s former regional sales director Jonathan Baron has ended a nine-year term at the company to join contextual video advertising firm Vibrant Media as vice-president of international sales.
Baron moved from Hong Kong to London in October 2006 to take on the role as group sales manager for Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions.