Microsoft product chief Panos Panay is leaving the company

Microsoft’s product chief, Panos Panay, will go away the software program and {hardware} maker, government vp Rajesh Jha instructed staff on Monday.

The shakeup represents a altering of the guard after greater than a decade of gross sales of Microsoft’s Surface PCs, which Panay has introduced to shoppers at company occasions. Surface gross sales have didn’t sustain with the development of cloud providers, and Windows, a supply of worthwhile income, has but to return to development after the pandemic kicked off a shopping for frenzy.

But the company is not giving up on these two areas.

“We stay steadfast and convicted in our technique and Yusuf Mehdi will take lead on our Windows and Surface companies and merchandise externally,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella mentioned in an announcement. Mehdi, who joined Microsoft in 1992, is Microsoft’s client chief advertising and marketing officer.

As a part of the adjustments, Charles Simonyi, who led the growth of Microsoft’s well-liked Word and Excel functions, is becoming a member of the administration groups for the Experiences and Devices group that Jha is is answerable for, Jha wrote in his memo to staff. Simonyi, now 75, rejoined Microsoft in 2017 as a technical fellow as the company acquired his startup Intentional Software.

“Our dedication to Surface and MR stays unchanged,” Jha wrote, referring to blended actuality, a class that features Microsoft’s HoloLens augmented-reality units.

Leadership adjustments involving Panos’ departure will take impact instantly, simply three days earlier than Microsoft holds an occasion in New York the place the company is anticipated to announce its subsequent era of Surface units.

After 10 years on the market, Surface had failed to achieve quite a lot of share factors of market share in PC shipments, though gadget designs have impressed different gadget makers that promote Windows machines. Microsoft picks up income from licenses bought to those gadget makers.

Panay joined Microsoft in 2004 as a bunch program supervisor on PC software program, and since 2021, he has been a part of the company’s senior management staff. Panay has not but introduced his future plans.

“After 19 unbelievable years at Microsoft, I’ve determined to show the web page and write the subsequent chapter,” he wrote on X, the platform previously often called Twitter. “I’m perpetually grateful for my time at Microsoft and the wonderful individuals I had the honor to make merchandise with.”

Read the full memo under.

Team, 

After practically 20 years at the company, Panos Panay has determined to go away Microsoft. Panos has had an unbelievable affect on our merchandise and tradition in addition to the broader units ecosystem. Under Panos’ management, the staff created the iconic Surface model with beloved merchandise. More not too long ago, as the chief of Windows, the staff has introduced wonderful providers and experiences to tons of of thousands and thousands with Windows 11 on revolutionary units together with these from our OEM companions. He will probably be missed, and I’m personally very grateful for his many contributions over the years. Please be part of me in wishing him nicely. 

Moving ahead, we’ll double down on our technique. These adjustments will probably be efficient instantly with Panos’ assist in the transition.  

• Build silicon, methods and units that span Windows, consumer and cloud for an AI world. This staff will probably be led by Pavan Davuluri, who will report on to me. Brett Ostrum, Nino Storniolo, Linda Averett, Ken Pan, Ralf Groene, Aidan Marcuss, Carlos Picoto, Stevie Bathiche, Robin Seiler, Ruben Caballero and Anuj Gosalia will transfer to report back to Pavan with their groups intact. Windows planning and launch administration will proceed to be on this staff. Our dedication to Surface and MR stays unchanged. 
• Build experiences that mix net, providers and Windows for an AI world. To this finish, Shilpa Ranganathan, Jeff Johnson and Ali Akgun will immediately report back to Mikhail Parakhin and type a brand new Windows and Web Experiences Team, shifting with their groups intact.  
• Yusuf Mehdi will tackle the accountability of main the Windows and Surface companies with our OEM and Retail companions. 

In addition, Charles Simonyi, Terri Chudzik and Erin Kolb will be part of the E+D administration groups and Ralf Groene and Mike Davidson will work collectively on the greatest alignment on design groups.  

We will arrange time for an AMA in the coming days to reply questions. Let’s proceed to remain targeted on executing on our present plans. Thank you for all that you simply do, and the affect that you’ve got for our clients and companions.  

Best, 

Rajesh 

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