Marketing exec Jeff Bell is leaving MS

Some things are just so shocking that there are no words to describe them. You can add to that list the following words: Jeff Bell is leaving Microsoft. It wasn't even a year ago that Jeff Bell appeared on the stage at E3, leaving everyone asking, "who is this guy?" Not long after that, we were befuddled by his attempts to spoil Harry Potter for millions of innocent children (and those who are young at heart). Truly, a strange inroduction (followed by otherstrangeness). And yet, somehow, at the end of the day, you can't help but love the guy.

Bell has decided to leave his role as the vice president of Global Marketing for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business saying, "The time is right for me to pursue my life's passion of consumer brand marketing and the creative and services that drive it." Exactly which industry he will befuddle and subsequently enchant remains unknown.

While Joystiq has chosen to use a video of Jeff Bell's performance of Tom Sawyer as a gesture of farewell, we have chosen something we think is more appropriate. Find our heartfelt goodbye after the break.

And one for our homies, Jeff. One for our homies.