Microsoft hires former McAfee anti-virus head

"(He) will be joining Microsoft as the general manager of Security Research & Response, and we look forward to working with him in his new role," a Microsoft spokesman said in an e-mail today.

The spokesman declined to elaborate on Gullotto's role within the company.

He will run Security Research & Response, part of the Security Technology Unit, responsible for platform security.

Gullotto formerly served as vice president of McAfee's Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team (AVERT), a leading threat center consisting of about 100 researchers spread across 14 countries.

A McAfee spokesperson could not be reached for comment today.

Gullotto's hiring comes almost three months after Microsoft entered the consumer security space with the official launch of its Windows Live OneCare solution. The Redmond, Wash. company also is planning to soon release its new Forefront enterprise security products.