Microsoft cuts jobs, APAC advertising lead Kevin Jennings let go

Bloomberg reported on 13 July that Microsoft was "eliminating several hundred jobs, mostly in advertising sales and marketing, as part of a review of staff tied to the start of a new fiscal year". 

Besides Jennings, other reported job cuts as a result of this move include digital marketing evangelist and community manager Mel Carson in London and several roles on the Microsoft Studio team in Vancouver. 

A statement from Microsoft Advertising issued to Campaign Asia-Pacific said:

Like any company, Microsoft continually evaluates its operations, and works to align the business in a way that positions us ahead of industry trends, and ensures the right resources are properly aligned against the right strategic priorities. To meet these goals, we occasionally increase investments in some areas and de-invest in others; in some cases, this results in re-deployment of jobs across the organization, and in some case job eliminations. Kevin Jennings has been impacted by these changes.

Kenneth Andrew, marketing director at Microsoft Advertising Asia-Pacific, added that the organisation remains "optimistic and confident" about Microsoft's advertising business in the region. " We have a growing and powerful portfolio of consumer assets that demonstrate the value we can deliver at scale to consumers and marketers," he said. 

Andrew added that the launch of Windows 8 and developments with Xbox and Skype presented the company with "tremendous opportunity". "We will continue to invest in the high growth and emerging Asian markets and our agency partners and customers across the region and will align our resources to ensure focus on these priorities," he said.

On a more personal note, Andrew added that he valued the time he spent working with Jennings and wishes him all the best in his next role.