Bruce Jaffe, a key Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) executive involved in acquisitions, will leave the company at the end of February. According to Valleywag, which reported the departure this afternoon, the VP of corporate development is looking to launch his own startup. Microsoft confirmed the departure to MarketWatch, but there’s nothing official yet on what he’s doing next. Jaffe has been with the company in various roles since 1995, though he took his current job in early 2006. The departure follows a very busy year for Microsoft on the acquisition front. And with the company already announcing a $1 billion plus deal this year, for Norway’s Fast Search & Transfer, the company doesn’t look to be slowing down.