Microsoft Fires CIO

Microsoft sacked its chief information officer, Stuart Scott, "after an investigation for violation of company policies," according to an email response to press inquiries. The company refuses to elaborate further, but since Scott appeared onstage with his boss at a technology conference less than a month ago, it seems his downfall was rather abrupt.

While Microsoft looks for a replacement, General Manager Shahla Aly and Corporate Vice President Alain Crozier will take over the CIO duties, which includes oversight of the company's IT infrastructure. Scott joined the company in 2005 after 17 years with General Electric Co. This is the third Microsoft CIO to leave the post in the last three years. (More Microsoft stories.)