Ex-MSNBC.com Head to Run MSN.com

Microsoft publicly announced Thursday that it had named John Nicol to head its MSN.com division, who pledged to push for increased investment and "and acquisitions if we need it," however he declined to be more specific.

Nicol had previously served as the head of MSNBC.com several years ago.

Although he has been with Microsoft since shortly after it announced a major reorganization last year, Thursday was the first day the company had publicly acknowledged his hiring. Nicol replaces Hadi Partovi, who left to start his own business.

Partovi rejoined Microsoft in 2002 after leaving to focus on personal projects in 1999. He was credited with starting several initiatives including MSN Music, start.com, and the MSN.com revisions.

Nicol says the first order of business for him is the company's entertainment offerings. He said that the company is investing "hundreds of millions" of dollars into the field, which may confuse some.

The company sold Slate, one of its premier entertainment properties, to the Washington Post in December 2004 and its share of the MSNBC cable channel to General Electric in December of last year. From all indications and from talk within the company, it appeared as if Microsoft was going to focus on its core software business; it now appears as if Nicol plans to reverse that trend.

The company says several changes are in the works for the MSN portal, including a travel section, as well as additional content across its other categories.