Ex-Microsoft exec gets top Baidu post

New president, COO to boost firm's AI push

Search engine giant Baidu Inc has appointed former Microsoft Corp executive Lu Qi its president and chief operating officer, a major push to help the company gain an edge in its latest profit driver - artificial intelligence.

The appointment of the software industry veteran, who was among the few Chinese to hold a senior position in a leading US tech company, also suggested that Chinese tech giants are becoming increasingly attractive to top-notch talent with an international background, an analyst said.