First, Ask loses Jeeves...now, they lose Steve Berkowitz, Ask.com's CEO and driving force behind the company's resurgence (and eventual acquisition by InterActiveCorp). It would be one thing if Berkowitz was riding off into the sunset to pursue a new passion or become a VC. But he's instead accepted a position at Microsoft to run the Online Business Group replacing David Cole.
I'm sure Barry Diller and his camp will try to spin this as a minor setback, but I have trouble accepting that Ask.com's driving force leaving for a major search rival isn't a crippling blow. I don't know Berkowitz personally (but have seen him present a handful of times), but our friends in Redmond aren't in the habit of idly bringing someone in to run a division; Berkowitz has a tall task ahead of him, but a relatively low bar left by Cole.
Note: At the time of this writing I, and/or funds I maintain discretionary control over, maintained a long equity position in MSFT but did not maintain a position (long or short) in IACI.
Comments