Awkward! As Microsoft Marketing Event Opens, Its Longtime Marketing Head Announces Surprise Retirement

Timing is everything and, sometimes, very awkward.

Today at its Redmond, Wash., campus, Microsoft is hosting a splashy online "marketing leadership summit" titled "Imagine 2011"--a gathering of top marketing execs from across the globe, most of whom are advertising clients of its online division.

Also today: Its longtime head of global marketing, Mich Mathews, announced her departure--to the surprise of many Microsoft execs here, in fact--via a report in Ad Age.

Elena Lyons Brooke Burns Lena Headey Ali Larter Angelina Jolie