Microsoft deal, exec exits: Coincidence or conspiracy?

Sometimes it takes a few days for the obvious to occur. Up here in the snowy northeast we call that “dawn breaking on Marblehead.”

Example: Ran into an old bud (to be known as Buddy) today who, as it happens, works for Fast Search & Transfer. That’s the little enterprise search  outfit Microsoft is buying for  a cool $1.2 BILLION to combat Google’s inside-the-firewall search incursion.

Buddy pointed out that within days  of that announcement– presided over by Microsoft Business Division president Jeff Raikes — Raikes himself announced  retirement plans.

And,  Microsoft’s top M&A guy, Bruce Jaffe, announced his  personal exit strategy as well. Jaffe will be gone next month, Raikes is hanging around till September.

But still.

Those bombshells dropped a day after the Fast deal became public.

Kinda makes you wonder, don’t it?