Dive Brief:

• Just days after Microsoft's layoff of its ad sales teams, the firm has promoted two senior executives to head up its ad sales team. 
• Bruno Fiorentini Junior is the new head of Microsoft Advertising global agencies and accounts team and Stephen Kim will lead the Microsoft Advertising worldwide marketing organization. 
• The ad sales structure will now be streamlined to revolve around the two senior execs who will sell across Microsoft's entire portfolio. 

Dive Insight: 

Layoffs are really hard to portray in a positive light in the media, but it seems Microsoft has a definite plan to streamline its ad sales business. The two senior execs will be taking on a big project, but it could simplify the process if they are in charge across all portfolios rather than have huge teams handling everything. As Microsoft continues its uphill battle with Google and Apple, time will tell if the restructuring is a positive move.