UPDATE: Phil Harrison's appointment as VP of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business has been confirmed, with the man himself claiming he is "excited to be joining the senior team at Microsoft at a pivotal time for our industry".Having made his name at Sony Computer Entertainment for the best part 16 years, Phil Harrison is set to join rival Microsoft as the firm's Game Studios head in Europe.

GamesIndustry.biz claims Microsoft will confirm his appointment in the coming hours, with Harrison – who dominated Sony's PlayStation operations across the continent during the 1990s – taking over from ex-Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux.

Trading spaces

Harrison left SCE back at the start of 2008 - a year after PlayStation 3's launch in Europe - moving on to serve as president at Atari for little over a year. He also took up residence as chairman of Atari's board until April 2010.

His next move was to co-found games investment specialist London Venture Partners with David Gardner and David Lau Kee.

While his new role at Microsoft will see him take charge of the firm's UK-owned studios operating across Xbox 360, Windows and Windows Phone, its expected he'll maintain an advisory role at the VC firm at the same time.

GamesIndustry.biz claims Harrison's new position could also see him make a reappearance at trade shows – arguably his speciality when working at SCE – with his first appearance coming as early as E3 2012, due to kick off this June in Los Angeles.

[source: GamesIndustry.biz]