REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 30, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that Richard Emerson, former managing director and co-head of technology and telecommunications advisory services at international investment bank Lazard Fr
è
res & Co. LLC, has joined Microsoft as senior vice president of corporate development and strategy.
“As one of the top deal-makers on Wall Street, Richard’s wide-ranging experience in the technology and telecommunications spheres makes him a strong addition to Microsoft’s leadership team,”
said Steve Ballmer, president and chief executive officer of Microsoft.
In his new role, Emerson will lead Microsoft’s corporate development activities, including mergers, acquisitions and partnerships.
“Richard adds great depth to our ongoing corporate development efforts,”
said John Connors, chief financial officer at Microsoft.
“His relationships and expertise negotiating major transactions across the industry will be great assets to Microsoft as we continue working to cultivate strategic business partnerships and make investments that help to bring better products to customers.”
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me. Microsoft is unique in that its products and services span the globe across many sectors, and clearly it is one of the legendary success stories of business,”
Emerson said.
“I am looking forward to working with Microsoft’s senior leadership as well as its seasoned corporate development team to further strategic activity with the result of better customer solutions and increased shareholder value.”
Emerson, 38, was co-head of Lazard’s San Francisco office. He has spent more than 12 years in San Francisco and New York with Lazard and Morgan Stanley, specializing in advising clients in the technology and telecommunications sectors on mergers, acquisitions and strategic partnerships.
In recent years, he advised on numerous important transactions including SBC’s acquisition of Pacific Telesis (its first regional Bell operating company merger), its wireless joint venture with BellSouth, and its purchase of Sterling Commerce; Gemstar’s merger with TV Guide; many of MCI’s strategic initiatives, including the announced merger with British Telecom and later sale to WorldCom; the sale of Legent and Cheyenne Software to Computer Associates; and many other transactions in the technology, telecommunications and media sectors.
“Richard has been a gifted banker in the best traditions of Lazard. We wish him the best and look forward to a continuing relationship with him,”
said William Loomis, chief executive officer of Lazard.
Emerson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Stanford University, and a master’s in business administration from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
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