Windows boss in shock departure from Microsoft

14 Nov 2012

After 23 years, Steven Sinofsky leaves software giant suddenly, amid rumours of friction between top executives.

Just two weeks after the launch of the Windows 8 operating system (OS), Microsoft’s head of Windows Steven Sinofsky has abruptly left the company, amidst rumours of friction between him and other senior executives.

Both the company and Sinofsky have been quick to present the split as amicable, even though departures this sudden rarely are. “It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft,” said Sinofsky in a public statement. “I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company.” In return, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer thanked Sinofsky for “the many years of work that [he] has contributed to the company.”

And in an internal email to company employees, published on CNET, Sinofsky insists he jumped, and wasn’t pushed. Nor does he have any beef with Microsoft’s management, he writes. “Some might notice a bit of chatter speculating about this decision or timing,” he writes. “I can assure you that none could be true as this was a personal and private choice that in no way reflects any speculation of theories one might read - about me, opportunity, the company or its leadership.

Whatever the truth behind Sinofsky’s decision, the timing is extremely unfortunate for Microsoft, which is counting on Windows 8 to rescue it from its dangerous reliance on traditional desktop PCs, in a world where end-user computing is increasingly dominated by smartphones and tablet computers, like Apple’s iPad or, indeed, Microsoft’s Surface.

It won’t have impressed the financial markets, either. "This is shocking news. This is very surprising," Brendan Barnicle, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, told Reuters. "Like a lot of people, I thought Sinofsky was in line to potentially be Ballmer's successor.

With the departure “effective immediately”, Microsoft had successors already lined up when it announced Sinofsky was leaving. Julie Larson-Green will be promoted to lead all of Windows software and hardware engineering, while CFO/CMO Tami Reller will expand her current role to take responsibility for the business side of Windows.

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