Microsoft is set to close its acquisition deal with aQuantive this week and plans to put aQuantive's chief executive, Brian McAndrews, in charge of all its ad serving and technology, The New York Post reports.

McAndrews will be one of three top managers who report directly to Kevin Johnson, president of the company's platforms and services group, which includes online advertising.

"We are moving rapidly toward closing," Burke told The Post. "As soon as we complete the transaction, we will be making an announcement."

In his new role, McAndrews will be key to Microsoft's goal to sell and deliver advertising beyond its own network of websites, and better compete with the likes of Google.

"Giving [McAndrews] a big job sends exactly the signal that Microsoft needs to be sending into the marketplace: they care about advertising and advertisers," one internet ad exec at a rival firm told the paper.