Microsoft said yesterday that it has hired Disney man Tony Scott, who will replace sacked chief information officer Stuart Scott.

He will head up the software giant's global IT helpdesk, which has 4,000 staff and oversees tech systems for Redmond's worldwide sales, marketing and services. It also looks after the firm's corporate systems and applications.

Scott, who has been in the industry for 25 years, most recently worked at Walt Disney Co where he was CIO of the Mickey Mouse firm's IT operations.

Prior to that he was chief technology officer at General Motors Corp and vice president of ops at Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co.

Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner will be Scott's new boss when he officially joins the company next month.

In November last year, Redmond fired Stuart Scott following an investigation into a "violation of company policies", although it refused to comment further on the circumstances behind cutting the exec loose. ®

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