Kelisky takes on search role in Microsoft restructure

by Adam Hill, Media Week 21-Aug-08, 14:00

LONDON - Jeff Kelisky has been appointed general manager of commercial search at Microsoft, an internal move that is part of the company's restructure of its search business group.

Formerly chief executive of Microsoft-owned Multimap, Kelisky will lead the company’s worldwide search business with a brief to maximize market growth and revenue.

Kelisky plans to lead the development of new services to help users when they are researching or buying a product or service online. His remit includes managing search features such as cashback, MSN shopping, local, consumer mapping and Virtual Earth. Jim Cruickshank, who was recently appointed director of mapping, local and shopping, will be part of Kelisky’s global team.

Multimap, which claims to attract 10 million unique users per month, was bought by Microsoft last year. Kelisky joined Multimap in 2000 and became chief executive in 2002.

Prior to joining Multimap, Kelisky spent three years at AT Kearney in strategy development, which included corporate restructuring. Before that, he was at IBM for seven years. In his new Microsoft role, he reports to Brad Goldberg, US-based general manager of the search business unit.