BBC Worldwide’s digital sales and business development head Peter Mercier is leaving to be Microsoft’s content acquisitions and strategy senior director – the latest in the revolving HR door between the two companies.
Mercier will be responsible for developing partnerships across Microsoft’s entertainment and devices division, including Xbox, Windows Media Centre and mobile.
BBCWW hired Mercier from MobiTV as head of mobile in 2007 before he got a wider digital role in ’08. Ashley Highfield left as CEO of BBCWW’s Kangaroo JV last year. Microsoft’s UK online services group VP Chris Dobson went the other way to be BBCWW’s WVP and GM of global ad sales, leading BBC.com ad sales in particular; he later took two BBCWWers with him.