Spotified

Jared Grusd, AOL’s senior vice president of business development and chief of strategy, is leaving to work at Spotify, All Things Digital reported.

Altria cuts

Altria Group, the largest seller of tobacco in the US, plans to cut 15 percent of its cigarette-related salaried jobs as shipments of Marlboro and other brands tumble.

Sony split

Sony agreed to buy Ericsson’s 50 percent stake in their 10-year-old mobile-phone venture to integrate the smartphone business with its gaming and tablet offerings. Ericsson will get $1.5 billion in cash.

Googled

Google continued its aggressive expansion into the daily deals space pioneered by Groupon by partnering with 14 daily deals providers for its Google Offers program.

Lazard leaps

Lazard Ltd., the biggest non-bank merger advisory firm, climbed 17 percent to $28.89 after reporting a 24 percent increase in revenue from mergers and acquisitions in the third quarter.