Facebook talent raid hits Microsoft, again

The talent war brewing between Facebook and Microsoft is poised to escalate as Facebook secures a string of senior Microsoft Advertising executives across Asia.Facebook's latest talent raid sees Erik Johnson, general manager Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions Greater China, take on one of Facebook's most senior sales roles in Asia. It is believed he will take on a vice president role.Johnson, currently based in Beijing, is understood to have resigned from Microsoft this week, and will relocate from Beijing to Singapore in coming months.Amy Ho, Microsoft Advertising's former regional business manager for Greater Asia Pacific, has also taken up a role with Facebook in Hong Kong.Former Google Hong Kong executive Terry Iu has also joined Facebook in its Hong Kong office.Meanwhile in Australia, Liam Walsh, managing director of Microsoft Advertising, has taken up a senior role with Facebook in Asia. What his role will include is currently unclear, but reports suggest it will be a senior sales role.The news is expected to be a blow to an increasingly sensitive Microsoft, which in the US has reportedly considered legal action against Facebook after it poached Microsoft’s global ad sales head Carolyn Everson.The latest moves also follow a number of Microsoft Advertising executives who have jumped ship to Facebook in recent months.Earlier this year Sunita Kaur, Microsoft Advertising's associate sales director, joined Facebook. This followed the appointment of Stephen Dolan from Microsoft Advertising for an Asia-wide sales role in May last year.