Dobson will take responsibility for developing Microsoft's international ad sales across all of its markets outside the US, reporting to Joanne Bradford, corporate vice-president of global sales and marketing.
He will focus on building stronger relationships between Microsoft and advertisers and agencies, as well as consolidating its position and attracting advertisers to the online network.
In his previous role as general manager of digital marketing sales and trade marketing for MSN's international arm, he helped re-establish MSN's business outside the US after the dotcom crash in 2000, and is credited with boosting revenue by 50% year on year for five successive years.
He is also credited with developing MSN's popular communications services, which include MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger into workable revenue streams.
Dobson said: "Over the last five years, MSN has seen tremendous growth in the industry with increasing numbers of advertisers building online into their marketing plans and responding to the customer service culture we have built over that period.
"With Microsoft's recent expansion of its portfolio of advertising properties in the digital space, we're giving advertisers new opportunities to reach audiences across the extended Microsoft media network."
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