Architect of Yahoo takeover quits Microsoft

Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday that Kevin Johnson, who as president of Microsoft's largest business division spearheaded the company's pursuit of Yahoo Inc, is leaving the software maker.

Microsoft will undergo a reorganization, splitting the division that Johnson runs - platforms and services - into two groups, one focusing on the Windows operating system and the other on search and other online services.

Johnson's departure is the latest hurdle to a possible transaction between Yahoo and Microsoft, a few days after the Web company and investor Carl Icahn settled a looming proxy fight to force Yahoo to strike a deal with Microsoft.