Microsoft Adds to Data Center Team

Catching up on new from earlier this week, Microsoft has hired Yahoo executive Dayne Sampson for a key position in its Global Foundation Services unit, which runs the company's huge data center operations. Sampson, who was vice president of operations at Yahoo, will report to Debra Chrapaty, corporate vice president of the Global Foundation Services (GFS) unit.

"We're very excited to have Dayne Sampson join the team," Microsoft said in a statement. "Operations and foundation services are key to delivering the Microsoft software plus services vision, and Dayne's extensive operations and industry experience will be a strong asset for GFS and the company."

Microsoft has been aggressively expanding its data center infrastructure in recent years, but has recently placed several new builds on hold as part of broader cost-cutting moves to address the slowing economy.