San Jose

As the Sr. Search Advertising Manager for Microsoft, Grote is responsible for driving Microsoft's worldwide search engine marketing strategy. Included in his responsibilities is agency oversight for Microsoft's search agency relationships, execution of Global Search Ad Campaigns and Relational Marketing campaigns running in 31 countries. In addition, Grote drives the Search Center of Excellence for Microsoft's 8,000 corporate and field marketers.

Grote first joined Microsoft in 2005 where he managed paid search strategy and operations for Microsoft's Online Services Division. While there, he built an internal agency that included 16 dedicated search marketers including campaign management for the MSN and Windows Live brands. In all Grote managed a paid search budget of approximately $40 million supporting approximately 50 internal clients including campaign development for one of Microsoft's largest paid search campaigns ever launched for Live Search Cashback.

Grote holds a BA in communications from the Western Washington University, in Bellingham, Washington. He now lives in Buckley, Washington with his wife and four boys.