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Former Microsoft exec Bates bounces to GoPro

Skype dude joins board of fancy camera maker

Portable video camera maker GoPro has made former Microsoft executive Tony Bates its president in the run up to its IPO.

The onetime Microsoft exec will report directly to GoPro's chief executive Nicholas Woodman, GoPro announced on Wednesday. The firm filed with US regulators in late May to raise as much as $111m in an IPO. Bates has also been appointed to the company's board of directors.

Bates most recently worked at Microsoft as its vice president of "Business Development and Evanelgism" and before that he ran the company's Skype division. The London-born exec had been tipped as a successor to Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer, but that role eventually went to cloud chap Satya Nadella.

Now, Bates will join the buzzy camera maker in the run up to its IPO.

"It's an honor to join the GoPro team," Bates said in a canned quote. "GoPro represents everything that excites me in a company. Incredible products, compelling content, a world-renowned brand and above all, amazing people who make it happen. Working for a technology company that creates products that people love and that capture life's magical moments is a dream come true."

Independent venture investor Peter Gotcher has also been appointed to GoPro's board of directors. Gotcher has formerly worked at media tech specialists like Digidesign and thereafter as a venture capitalist at places like Institution Venture Partners and Redpoint Ventures. ®

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