Danny Sullivan introduced keynote speaker, Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s Corporate VP, Search & Advertising Platform Group, as a 15 year old. To which the calm man only smiled. Who would have thought the man would look more at ease as more questions fired his way.
The Microsoft Honcho was dressed casual and looking comfortable as Danny Sullivan started his Q & A. On the current position of Microsoft, Satya said Microsoft was passionate and had the need to contribute. So, the biggest question they face currently is how to show that innovation. Also, he said, Microsoft had very little to lose! The focus currently, of Microsoft is to integrate the engineering teams (ad and search) together and bring out the best to keep its 500 million users all around the world.
Whe Danny Sullivan asked about the recent super-expensive purchase of aQuantive, Satya was prompt in justifying the acquisition saying:
“At some level aQuantive has cracked the code on this one. They had a technology business as well as an agency. They were able to keep the agency and maintain its flexibility and separation from their technology business, so clearly anything we would do would just take that leadership that aQuantive has shown and make sure that we retain it and not change. … We will have to make sure that we reinforce what aQuantive has done in order to be able to keep those two businesses separate.”
Microsoft is working on having the #1 search interface with the most detailed search results. “We’re in the first phases of search innovation”. Finally, on asked why people live.com should be used, Satya said only Live.com has an aggregation of a whole of the latest features.
A cheeky invitee asked Satya whether users would be paid to use live.com to which a laughing Satya said he’ad ask the Microsoft boss.
Famous last words:
Satya doesn’t think he’s in the search game only to win or get their fair share in the verticals. In fact, he and Microsoft are in the game for both.
Being able to really get contextual search around the entire Microsoft network and increase engagement is perhaps job number one.
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