We reported last week that rumors were floating around about Blake Irving's potential retirement from Microsoft.  Now, Mary Jo Foley brings us a memo from the Live team, confirming that Blake Irving, Corporate VP for Windows Live, will be leaving late this summer.

Irving has done a ton to drive Microsoft's online initiative forward in his time there.  Blake (seen on the left) closed a deal with Yahoo! in 2006 to have interoperability between Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger, a landmark event in the IM space.

We are sad to see him go, being such a large source of inspiration in the division, but we wish him the best luck with whatever awaits him in the future.

Check out the memo after the jump.  (via Mary Jo Foley)