REDMOND, Wash. — June 28, 2007 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Katherine Styponias will join the Media & Entertainment Group as general manager, where she will lead the business development team working with major content suppliers. Styponias joins Microsoft from Prudential Equity Group LLC, where she served as senior vice president and the senior cable, entertainment and satellite equity analyst. She has relocated from New York to Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
Styponias is widely recognized as an expert in analyzing media industry trends and companies. She was named in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best on the Street” poll for earnings-estimate accuracy and stock picking in the entertainment category. She was also recognized in Institutional Investor magazine’s All-America Research Team poll and was named the No. 1 earnings estimator for the media sector in the Forbes.com/StarMine Analysts Awards for 2004.
“I’ve known Kathy for more than 10 years and have the highest regard for her,” said Blair Westlake, corporate vice president of the Media & Entertainment Group at Microsoft. “Kathy brings to our team an unparalleled depth of knowledge and understanding about the entertainment industry that will help expand business opportunities for both Microsoft and its partners.”
“After 12 years covering developments in entertainment, I’m looking forward to turning my knowledge and relationships into opportunity for the industry,” Styponias said. “This is a time of tremendous change in the way entertainment is being delivered, and Microsoft is a great place to influence the game.”
Styponias joined Prudential in July 1995, writing and conducting research on publicly traded media companies. Before joining Prudential, she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1988 from Queens College, City University of New York, and received her MBA from Columbia Business School at Columbia University.
Styponias is fluent in Greek, enjoys traveling and is an admitted TV junkie and nascent gamer.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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