Microsoft hires former Adobe exec as corporate VP

Microsoft has announced that Michael Gough has joined the company as Corporate VP of design for the Applications and Services Group (ASG) from Adobe Systems.

Gough joins Microsoft from Adobe Systems where he most recently served as VP of Experience Design leading its multidisciplinary experience creation organization.

His responsibilities included leading the design of individual products, cross-product experiences, and next-generation products and services.

Gough will be responsible for leading design across many of Microsoft’s most important products, including Office 365, and will report to Julie Larson-Green, Chief Experience Officer.

“Michael shares our passion for creating design-led, customer-centered products,” Larson-Green said. “His design thought leadership and creative expertise will be great additions to our current design teams as we transform the ASG product development culture and deliver compelling experiences for our customers. We are excited to have Michael join us, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Adobe.”

A longtime design evangelist and advocate for the next generation of creatives, Gough has been pushing the envelope with disruptive designs and technology innovation for years.

Before joining Adobe in 2005, Gough served as the vice president of brand design at Nike Inc., chief creative officer at Quokka Sports Inc., and founder and creative director at Construct Internet Design.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Microsoft and the effort to bring more productive and rewarding digital experiences to the world,” Gough said. “Microsoft is ideally placed to lead a much-needed revolution in our relationship with the digital world. With all its compelling assets, the company has a unique opportunity to connect every aspect of people’s digital lives.”

Gough is a regular speaker at industry conferences on the topics of design, creativity, innovation and education.