— Guardian: Guardian News & Media has promoted Guardian deputy editor Paul Johnson to head of news, business and sport, working across online, Guardian print and The Observer, according to the buried paragraph in what is otherwise this re-announcement of GNM’s multiplatform strategy. The integration will happen “over the next few months”. The story says The Observer retains its newsdesk but, with Johnson gaining responsibility for Observer news, how far can that be the case?
— Telegraph.co.uk: Telegraph Media Group is “bringing all digital operations under former AOL (NYSE: TWX) executive Mike Moore”, mad.co.uk says, though frankly it’s unclear what exactly that means. TMG only tapped Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) alum Alison Reay for digital director in December. We think Moore’s focus is on the commercial and business side.
— Microsoft: Eleven months after leaving GCap Media as interactive director to become Multimap’s B2C GM, Jim Cruickshank is joining Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) as its EMEA director of mapping, local and shopping, he tells NMA. Microsoft bought the mapping service for a reported £24.4 million in December to complement its Virtual Earth, Live Search and Windows Live offerings. Cruickshank’s realignment would seem to suggest further complementarity.
— AP: Associated Press has appointed Daisy Veerasingham sales VP for the EMEA region and Asia. Meanwhile, a new role of global product development SVP sees Jane Seagrave focus on new media.