With impressions of the make or break Windows 8 launch still front of mind, Microsoft has announced that Windows boss and 23-year Microsoft veteran Steven Sinofsky (who has also been talked about as a possible future CEO ) has left the company.
This was not an action anyone expected and the timing and rapidity of the move is a shock. The company and Sinofsky indicate it is a mutual decision, with Sinofsky saying that the best time to take stock and make changes is after a major launch. That’s true enough but this is a dramatic change. Sinofsky has been credited with recovering Windows after the Vista mess and was the driving force behind Windows 7, Windows 8 on multiple devices, and led the development for the Surface tablet (as well as driving up the quality of the Office suite prior to that). The news wires are thrumming with rumours of friction between top executives and reminders that both Ballmer and Sinofsky have had their bonuses cut due to declines in Windows revenue and issues over compliance with the EU ruling on choice of browsers. Ballmer has replaced the heads of all five divisions over the last 3-4 years.
Sinofsky’s role will be split across two people. Julie Larson-Green who has worked alongside Sinofsky will lead Windows software and hardware engineering; and Tami Reller the Windows group CFO and CMO will take on responsibility for the business of Windows. Both will report to Ballmer.
With Windows 8 out of the door (see Windows 8: savior or sinker?) much of the effort will switch from engineering to sales and marketing, so the immediate impact of his departure is unlikely to be too extreme. However, further Windows 8 development is a given - even Ballmer refers to the launch as the start of change within Microsoft rather than the end - so the effects (good or bad) will become apparent further down the line. In one of Ballmer’s statements on the departure he said it was "imperative that we continue to drive alignment across all Microsoft teams, and have more integrated and rapid development cycles for our offerings". That could be a comment on speed of delivery.