Apple's hiring binge continues with the news that the company raided Microsoft's Xbox team for its chief strategy planner. Richard Teversham, director of business, insights and strategy for Microsoft's Xbox team, has joined Apple for what MCV reported was an educational-related role at Apple's European offices.

"We can confirm that Richard Teversham, director of business, insights and strategy, has taken a new opportunity outside of Microsoft," Microsoft said in a statement given to MCV. "A process is underway for recruiting his replacement. A 15-year veteran of Xbox and Microsoft, Richard has been an integral part of the success of Xbox in Europe and in the UK.

"We thank him for his considerable and valuable contributions to the Xbox business in EMEA during his time with us, and wish him every possible future success."

Richard Teversham

Apple has been on its hiring spree for the past year or more, with several hires coming to light in the last few days. In addition to Mr. Teversham, Apple has lured two top chip developers from AMD's Graphics Products Group (formerly ATI).

On Thursday, it was learned that Raja Koduri, AMD's former Chief Technology Officer of the Graphics Product Group, will be joining Apple in an undisclosed job. On Tuesday, we reported that Bob Drebin, AMD's previous CTO for the same group, had joined Apple as an unspecified "senior director."

Late in 2008, there was the much-publicized hiring of Mark Papermaster from IBM, another chip developer who is now Apple's Vice President of Device Hardware Engineering, reporting directly to Steve Jobs. That hire landed Apple in court as IBM sought to force Mr. Papermaster to honor the terms of a non-compete contract he had signed with Big Blue, a case that was eventually settled.

Speculation is already underway on what Mr. Teversham will be doing at Apple. Writing for TechCrunch, Ivan Beres said, "I'm quite sure he is not going to teach people how to use their iPods." The Washington Post's Tameka Kee suggested that "education-related" could mean that he will be reaching out to developers or even heading up a new iPhone/iPod touch gaming division.