Wow, Vic Gundotra leaves Microsoft for Google

June 28, 2006 By

Interesting, Vic Gundotra leaves Microsoft, Business 2.0 says, to take a year off and then head to Google.

Vic is the guy who hired me into Microsoft and is one of the people who made me believe. I will never forget his pitch to me to join Microsoft: “this might be good for your career.”

Thanks Vic for everything and good luck in your future career.

+++++

Brain drain at Microsoft?

Is there a brain drain going on at Microsoft? It sure looks that way but keep in mind that Vic and I didn’t write code. We didn’t make the products.

Those of us who — whether deserved or not — become public faces of companies can wildly change the perceptions of those companies.

There are 60,000+ people working at Microsoft. Not two or three. Or even 15.

What’s ironic is I met quite a few employees at Microsoft who used to work at Google. No one talks about them.

On the other hand, this is a win for Google and a loss for Microsoft. They got a good guy.

By the way, I tried to call Vic for several hours tonight to get his comment and he didn’t return my calls. I didn’t know either Vic was going to leave before today, either, although when we talked recently about my own career I could tell he was considering life changes as well.

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  • http://www.softwareandtools.com/ Tejas Patel

    Well people move on from time to time. But too many people moving at the same time is no good ;)

  • http://www.softwareandtools.com Tejas Patel

    Well people move on from time to time. But too many people moving at the same time is no good ;)

  • jones

    As a former employee, I always thought of him as a slimy snake; not surprised to see him switch sides for pure financial gain; it sure is a loss to MS thoug.

  • jones

    As a former employee, I always thought of him as a slimy snake; not surprised to see him switch sides for pure financial gain; it sure is a loss to MS thoug.

  • Hasan

    It’s the salary I guess.

  • Hasan

    It’s the salary I guess.

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  • http://kingsley2.com/ Kingsley

    @Tejas: People have been moving in and out MS for 20-something years. The visibility of the people involved doesn’t really make a huge difference, except perhaps in recruiting. 2-3 people in a company of tens of thousands quit, and it turns into a big deal ? Only in the blogosphere.

    @Hasan: Yeah, it must be that. Because, MS obviously doesn’t have the cash.

    @Scoble: Yes, and I (sometimes) meet Salesforce people who turned down jobs at Google. Weird? Maybe. But no one talks about them either. I won’t say it’s a Google conspiracy, but the blogosphere is quite enchanted by them.

  • http://kingsley2.com Kingsley

    @Tejas: People have been moving in and out MS for 20-something years. The visibility of the people involved doesn’t really make a huge difference, except perhaps in recruiting. 2-3 people in a company of tens of thousands quit, and it turns into a big deal ? Only in the blogosphere.

    @Hasan: Yeah, it must be that. Because, MS obviously doesn’t have the cash.

    @Scoble: Yes, and I (sometimes) meet Salesforce people who turned down jobs at Google. Weird? Maybe. But no one talks about them either. I won’t say it’s a Google conspiracy, but the blogosphere is quite enchanted by them.

  • http://labrat777.wordpress.com/ labrat777

    I can’t wait to hear about Steve Jobs throwing chairs trying to convince him not to leave.

  • http://labrat777.wordpress.com/ labrat777

    I can’t wait to hear about Steve Jobs throwing chairs trying to convince him not to leave.

  • http://techticles.com/ Milo Riano

    I would like to think that people moving out of Microsoft is a very very small percentage which in turn is probably way above better than industry standards. Just a hunch…

  • http://techticles.com Milo Riano

    I would like to think that people moving out of Microsoft is a very very small percentage which in turn is probably way above better than industry standards. Just a hunch…

  • http://www.southasiabiz.com/ razib

    I agree with Hasan that most probably the financial benefit is the key reason. Microsoft should take this matter seriously. Losing an experienced employee is never a good thing for any company.

  • http://www.southasiabiz.com/ razib

    I agree with Hasan that most probably the financial benefit is the key reason. Microsoft should take this matter seriously. Losing an experienced employee is never a good thing for any company.

  • http://dotnetjunkies.com/WebLog/paul/default.aspx paul

    Microsoft still has Rory…

  • http://dotnetjunkies.com/WebLog/paul/default.aspx paul

    Microsoft still has Rory…

  • http://www.softwareandtools.com/ Tejas Patel

    @Kingsley
    it can become a big deal. As I now respect companies like Microsoft and Google, not only for their brilliant software developers but for the people who represent the company as a human voice on the blogosphere.

  • http://www.softwareandtools.com Tejas Patel

    @Kingsley
    it can become a big deal. As I now respect companies like Microsoft and Google, not only for their brilliant software developers but for the people who represent the company as a human voice on the blogosphere.

  • Daniel

    So, Robert, how’s it feel to be a “Disgustingly public face”?

    Perhaps there are one or two, even more “disgustingly public”, faces, that you could suggest, as being still incumbent at Microsoft, that might actually benefit the company by “making way for others”?

    On, wait! It’s Mini’s job, to make those suggetions, isn’t it?

  • Daniel

    So, Robert, how’s it feel to be a “Disgustingly public face”?

    Perhaps there are one or two, even more “disgustingly public”, faces, that you could suggest, as being still incumbent at Microsoft, that might actually benefit the company by “making way for others”?

    On, wait! It’s Mini’s job, to make those suggetions, isn’t it?

  • http://www.michelvanhelden.com/ Michel

    How can we blame him! Even the boss left after hearing you where departing. ;-)

  • http://www.michelvanhelden.com Michel

    How can we blame him! Even the boss left after hearing you where departing. ;-)

  • http://urbantwelve.blogspot.com/ Chris

    Also keep in mind that we would never hear about a developer leaving MS, or a hundred.

  • http://urbantwelve.blogspot.com Chris

    Also keep in mind that we would never hear about a developer leaving MS, or a hundred.

  • El Duque

    Are you sure MS still has 60,000? Check mini’s blog

  • El Duque

    Are you sure MS still has 60,000? Check mini’s blog

  • http://roman-rytov.typepad.com/miles/ Roman Rytov

    An interesting cross-post on a few joined MSFT recently:-)
    http://blogs.msdn.com/jobsblog/archive/2006/06/28/650332.aspx

    we have quite the same flows of people at SAP and Oracle moving both directions. every bigwig’s move begets a loud discussion on a “crisis”. I believe it’s all natural as soon as there is no flood on any direction

  • http://roman-rytov.typepad.com/miles/ Roman Rytov

    An interesting cross-post on a few joined MSFT recently:-)
    http://blogs.msdn.com/jobsblog/archive/2006/06/28/650332.aspx

    we have quite the same flows of people at SAP and Oracle moving both directions. every bigwig’s move begets a loud discussion on a “crisis”. I believe it’s all natural as soon as there is no flood on any direction

  • http://analysis.wordpress.com/ analysis

    I think the real question is what is the overall turnover rate? and how much is voluntary? And how does it compare with the industry?

  • http://analysis.wordpress.com/ analysis

    I think the real question is what is the overall turnover rate? and how much is voluntary? And how does it compare with the industry?

  • http://kingsley2.com/ Kingsley Joseph

    OK, that “disgustingly public face” referred to the politicians who represent us. I think it’s obvious when you read the post, but maybe it doesn’t come through as well on the trackback.

    Tejas, do tell me who represents Google in the blogosphere, especially someone who’s leaving would make them look bad?

  • http://kingsley2.com Kingsley Joseph

    OK, that “disgustingly public face” referred to the politicians who represent us. I think it’s obvious when you read the post, but maybe it doesn’t come through as well on the trackback.

    Tejas, do tell me who represents Google in the blogosphere, especially someone who’s leaving would make them look bad?

  • HC

    Scoble, you do realize you don’t work for MS anymore, Right?

  • HC

    Scoble, you do realize you don’t work for MS anymore, Right?

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  • http://www.zoomgroups.com/ RBA

    “What’s ironic is I met quite a few employees at Microsoft who used to work at Google. No one talks about them.”

    Say it louder. I think nobody noticed…
    (just adding to the irony)

  • http://www.zoomgroups.com/ RBA

    “What’s ironic is I met quite a few employees at Microsoft who used to work at Google. No one talks about them.”

    Say it louder. I think nobody noticed…
    (just adding to the irony)

  • http://blog.basturea.com/ Constantin

    In other news, Lenn Pryor is going to eBay.

  • http://blog.basturea.com Constantin

    In other news, Lenn Pryor is going to eBay.

  • dmad

    @20. They cryptic way in which the Taylor’s departure was reported makes me wonder if he wasn’t pushed rather than “left”

  • dmad

    @20. They cryptic way in which the Taylor’s departure was reported makes me wonder if he wasn’t pushed rather than “left”

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  • http://www.chipsquips.com/ Sterling (Chip) Camden

    Hmm. I wonder why my pingback came through as “Anonymous”?

  • http://www.chipsquips.com Sterling (Chip) Camden

    Hmm. I wonder why my pingback came through as “Anonymous”?

  • http://smjth.wordpress.com/ mhread

    I would be surprised if the reason if purely financial. Microsoft are the old boys of the technology circle, good is new. Even apple do a better job of attracting talent….

  • http://smjth.wordpress.com/ mhread

    I would be surprised if the reason if purely financial. Microsoft are the old boys of the technology circle, good is new. Even apple do a better job of attracting talent….

  • http://mikeabundo.com/ Mike Abundo

    In related news, Ballmer orders a new chair.

  • http://mikeabundo.com/ Mike Abundo

    In related news, Ballmer orders a new chair.

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