Juniper Networks announces ex-Microsoft executive Kevin Johnson as CEO'

Juniper Networks Inc. today confirmed it has named Kevin Johnson, the Microsoft executive in charge of the company's Windows and Web operations, as CEO. He replaces Scott Kriens, who will continue as chairman and "will remain active in the areas of strategy and leadership development," the company said.

The move comes roughly eight months after Microsoft lured away ex-Juniper Chief Operating Officer Stephen Elop who joined the Redmond giant as president of its software business division. Also, the announcement just precedes the declaration of its quarterly results later today.

Johnson played a key role in Microsoft's failed attempt to buy Internet icon Yahoo Inc. for $47.5 billion. In his previous capacity, he oversaw more than 14,000 employees and was one of three division presidents at Microsoft reporting to Chief Executive Steve Ballmer.

After Microsoft officially pulled its acquisition bid for Yahoo in May, Johnson issued an email to employees cautioning that, "The fact is that we are not where we want to be in this business yet and we've been in this position longer than we'd all like."

Microsoft had announced Johnson's departure late Wednesday as part of a reorganization of his unit, which had included both online services and Microsoft's flagship Windows software. Under the new structure, Microsoft said its online services and Windows will be split into two groups.

Microsoft will name a new "senior lead position" for its online services unit, the company said in a statement, while senior vice presidents Steven Sinofsky, Jon DeVaan and Bill Veghte will lead the Windows and Windows live units.

Juniper Networks is an information technology company based in Sunnyvale, California and founded in 1996. The company designs and sells Internet Protocol network products and services. Juniper also partners with Nokia Siemens Networks, Ericsson, and Alcatel-Lucent to provide IP/MPLS network solutions to customers.

Juniper's products include T-series, M-series, E-series, MX-series, and J-series families of routers, EX-series Ethernet switches, WX-series WAN optimization devices, and SRC Session and Resource Control appliances. It had revenues of $2.83 billion last year.