Microsoft has put former Yahoo exec Qi Lu in charge of Microsoft's search, online-advertising, online-information, and online-communications businesses. Lu will report directly to Steve Ballmer.

Lu worked at Yahoo since 1998 and led Yahoo through a revamp of its search platform and the introduction of the Panama ad platform. AdAge notes "his arrival at Microsoft is a sign that the culture of Microsoft's online businesses has moved away from that of a media company" -- a good sign given the dire state of the media industry -- "and become more engineering-focused.

At the same time, Brian McAndrews, the current SVP in charge of the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group is leaving Microsoft. McAndrews was the CEO of aQuantive when the company was acquired 19 months ago. McAndrews is considered a possibility for the open Yahoo CEO gig.