Microsoft Europe has parted company with vice-president of advertising and online Andy Hart, as the technology group shifts its global display ad business to AOL.

He has been in his current role since 2013, when he was promoted from general manager of advertising and online.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed Hart’s departure to M&M Global with a statement reading: “Andy Hart (VP, Advertising and Online, Microsoft Europe) has decided his next challenge lies outside Microsoft. We thank him for his contribution and wish him well for the future.”

Hart leaves Microsoft following the announcement in June that Microsoft was moving its display advertising to AOL as part of its strategy to strip out some of its loss-making operations.

Before joining the technology giant, Hart worked in a variety of agency and media roles in publishing and tech, including at Ask Jeeves, Associated Northcliffe and the now obsolete Sunday Business newspaper.

Elsewhere, following the advertising transfer deal with AOL, Microsoft’s UK sales director, Stuart Flint, is understood to have moved to AOL and retained the equivalent job title.