Zhang Hongjiang, former chief technology officer for Microsoft China R&D Group and managing director of Microsoft Advanced Technology Center. [CFP]

A top executive with software giant Microsoft's research division in China has stepped down to take the helm of domestic antivirus software developer Kingsoft, the company announced Wednesday.

Zhang Hongjiang, chief technology officer for Microsoft China R&D Group and managing director of Microsoft Advanced Technology Center, has resigned to take the post as chief executive officer of Chinese antivirus software developer Kingsoft, the company's chairman confirmed yesterday in a post on Sina Weibo.

Kingsoft's chairman Lei Jun said Zhang Hongjiang will start work at Kingsoft on Oct. 24.

Zhang Hongjiang, an expert in video and image analysis, joined Microsoft in 1999 and founded Microsoft Advanced Technology Center with Dr. Zhang Yaqin in 2003. He worked as chief technology officer of Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group in 2006.

Zhang Yaqin, chairman of Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group, gave high praise to Zhang Hongjiang, saying he made a tremendous contribution to the establishment and development of Microsoft Asia-Pacific R&D Group.

Zhang Hongjiang's name and photograph hadn't been removed from the Microsoft website by press time.

China's business press carried the story above on Thursday.