Celebrity blogger Scoble leaving Microsoft

Robert Scoble, Microsoft's most popular blogger, has just confirmed on his blog that he will be leaving the software giant to join a podcasting start up named Podtech.net. He has also made clear that he doesn't leave Microsoft on a negative note and that he will explain his decision further tomorrow.

Since he joined Microsoft in 2003, Scoble has become the role model for many business bloggers because he managed to balance personal integrity and supportive views on the corporation in a compelling way. With his dayjob as videoblogger on Microsoft's Channel 9 and his personal Scobleizer blog he helped to put a human face on a corporation that was often perceived as the "evil empire". That earned him the title of a Chief Humanizing Officer by the Economist and also made him an oracle to many who wanted to understand the impact of blogging on Corporate Communications.

Robert has summarized his views on business blogging in a book entitled Naked Conversations, co-authored by Shel Israel. As far as I can see, it is the best collection of case studies on business blogging we currently have. It's only weakness is that it doesn't present blogging within its larger context: the dynamic of peer-to-peer platforms, including not only blogs and podcasts but also wikis, social networks, search engines, user review boards, consumer-to-consumer trading sites, etc.

On a more personal note, I had the pleasure to sit with Robert on a panel discussing business blogging a couple of months ago and was impressed by his unpretentious competence. I am keen to see how he will further develop his personal brand and wish him all the best with his new venture.

Georg Kolb

Technorati tags: Robert Scoble, Microsoft, Naked Conversations