NEW YORK (Reuters) Google Inc., the Internet search company, on Tuesday said it hired executive Johnny Chou to lead its development in China, an increasingly important and competitive market for technology companies.

Chou, who previously served as UT Starcom”s president of China operations, will take the title of President, Sales and Business Development, Greater China in the new job with Google.

The hiring of Chou follows Google”s move to bring on board former Microsoft Corp. executive Kai-Fu Lee, who will spearhead Google”s China public affairs and the creation of the company”s research and development center.

Lee and Chou will jointly oversee Google”s overall operations. But the hiring of Lee has also created a legal tangle, with Microsoft accusing Google and its former executive of violating a non-compete agreement. The matter is still working its way through U.S. courts.