A very interesting article at the New York Times by Miguel Helft about Qi Lu, the President of Microsoft's Online Services Division [Wikipedia]:

"Qi Lu knows as well as anyone just how difficult it is to take on Google. For nearly a decade, Mr. Lu played a leading role in building Yahoo's Internet search and advertising technologies. The effort was so important that Yahoo backed it with billions of dollars …"

"… Mr. Lu said he was not underestimating the challenge. But over time, he said, Microsoft has a chance to offer a service that is different and compelling enough to compete effectively…"

"…his intellect is matched only by his work habits. He sleeps three to four hours a night. One most weekdays, he wakes up around 4 a.m., goes through his e-mail and runs four miles on a treadmill while listening to classical music or watching the news…"

"On his last day at Yahoo, for example, a problem came up with a database, and he worked side by side with his engineers trying to fix it. He left only when, at midnight, his e-mail and network access were automatically cut off"

"… Mr. Lu declined to talk with Mr. Ballmer, who had become interested in meeting him, until after his long-planned departure from Yahoo because he thought it would be improper …"

I think I have a new favorite MSFT Exec …. Sorry Ray and Steve ;-)