It didn't take Microsoft's Don Mattrick long to poach one of his old colleagues from video game publisher Electronic Arts.

In the latest executive swap between the two companies, Microsoft said Thursday that it has tapped EA executive vice president John Schappert to head up key parts of its Interactive Entertainment Business.

The unit is run by Mattrick, a former president at EA that Microsoft in July appointed head of IEB. Within IEB, Schappert will assume the newly created position of corporate VP for LIVE software and services.

In that role, Schappert will oversee Microsoft's Xbox LIVE business -- which boasts 7 million members across 25 countries. He will also have responsibility for Games for Windows -- LIVE, XNA and Microsoft casual games.

Schappert has held a number of senior posts at EA. Most recently, he was executive VP for operations and technology. He was also chief operating officer for worldwide studios.

Executives at Microsoft and EA are wearing a path between the two companies' offices. Last month, Microsoft's chief of Xbox operations, Peter Moore, left Microsoft to head up Electronic Arts' EA Sports division. Continue At Source

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