Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft executive who turned its Windows franchise around and just led the effort to release
Windows 8, is leaving the company, effective immediately.
Sinofsky, a controversial figure at the company, was the subject of
a recent CNET profile that explored his polarizing ways. Insiders said he was warring with Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer.
The company said the decision behind Sinofsky's departure was mutual,
thought the abruptness of the announcement might suggest otherwise.
"I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company," Ballmer said.
Steven Sinofsky talks up Microsoft's Surface tablet at the company's unveiling event in New York.
Sinofsky was equally gracious in his comments.
"It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years
at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of
everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome
company," Sinofsky said in a statement.
Microsoft promoted Sinofsky's longtime lieutenant, Julie Larson-Green,
to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller, the
chief financial officer and chief marketing officer in the Windows
group, will take over responsibility for the business of Windows. Both
executives will report directly to Ballmer.
Some Microsoft watchers had pegged Sinofsky as a CEO-in-waiting, but he
developed a reputation for being divisive and not working well with
executives in other divisions.
"Steven is a rare talent," a Microsoft executive told CNET in last
month's profile of him. But "as you think about future leadership,
collaboration will be critical in a way it has never has before."
Sinofsky joined Microsoft in July 1989 as a software design engineer,
fresh from earning a master's degree in computer science from the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Within three years, he was
elevated to technical assistant for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a
top job for an aspiring young Microsoftie.
In 1999, he became senior vice president of Office, responsible for
leading the effort to release productivity software suite. His success
with shipping a quality version of Office regularly and on time, led
Microsoft's brass to tap him to run the Windows division. In 2006,
Sinofsky became senior vice president of the Windows and Windows Live
group. Three years later, Sinofsky was promoted to president of the
Windows division.
He helped restore Windows from the debacle that was Windows Vista, a
widely panned and dramatically late version of the company's flagship
product.
Windows 7
was his first effort, a solid product that cleaned up much of the mess
that Vista left behind. Windows 8 debuted last month. While it's too
early to tell how well it's doing, the product has won kudos and raised
some concern for its bold user interface design, a striking departure
from previous versions.
With Sinofsky out the door, the list of possible successors to Ballmer
shrinks by one. Internally, some have speculated that Kevin Turner, the
voluble chief operating officer, might be next in line. But Turner, who
joined Microsoft from Wal-Mart Stores, doesn't have the technical chops
that might be a requirement for the post.
Potential outside candidates could include Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings, who said last month that he wouldn't stand for re-election to Microsoft's board
in order to focus on Netflix. But some have speculated that Microsoft
might be interested in buying the video service, which could put him in
position to succeed Ballmer.
Source : CNET
