Frank X. Shaw, Waggener Edstrom's top exec on the Microsoft account announced his departure today--for Microsoft. He will be VP of Corporate Communications, starting at the end of August, according to his Glass House blog post this morning. He'll report to Mich Mathews, senior VP for Microsoft's Central Marketing Group

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is Waggener's biggest account, and Shaw has been a part of it from the beginning dating back at least as far as the Windows XP launch of 2001. His total tenure at WE is 14 years.

WE's statement is amicable, and announces that Shaw's duties will be handled by Pam Edstrom herself in the interim.

Shaw replaces Simon Sproule, who was only in the position for five months. Sproule returns to the auto business by joining Renault-Nissan Alliance in Paris. He was at Nissan prior to Microsoft.

WE's statement on Shaw's departure is after the jump:

Frank X. Shaw, currently president of the Microsoft account worldwide for Waggener Edstrom Worldwide Inc., is leaving the agency to become Microsoft's corporate vice president for Corporate Communications. This is the position most recently held by Simon Sproule, who has resigned from Microsoft Corp. and is joining the Renault-Nissan Alliance in Paris. Shaw will report to Mich Mathews, senior vice president for Microsoft's Central Marketing Group, and expects to begin his new role in late August.

"We are proud that the skills and leadership Frank developed, and demonstrated, in his 14 years at WE have been recognized as those Microsoft will most benefit from in driving its communications programs forward," said Melissa Waggener Zorkin, CEO and founder of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. "We are also pleased that we have a breadth of talent in senior account management and leadership to continue consistently providing gold standard work for Microsoft, which in the interim will go forward under the leadership of agency co-founder and executive vice president Pam Edstrom."

In addition to helping lead and mentor the Microsoft account, Edstrom will work with the deep bench of talent on the team to ensure the optimal structure and leadership to help our Microsoft clients meet their business opportunities. "We want to thank Frank for his leadership during his time at Waggener Edstrom, and are excited about the evolution of our relationship, which will enable us to continue delivering new programs for Microsoft as its worldwide agency of record and demonstrating leadership in digital communications and influence," Zorkin said.