Steven Sinofsky leaves Microsoft, effective immediately

[Arthur]

Source: Microsoft (via The Register)

 

Steven Sinofsky, who since 2009 has served as president of Microsoft's Windows and Windows Live divisions, has left the company less than a month after launching what Steve Ballmer called the most important operating system in Redmond's history.

 

"It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft," Sinofsky said in a statement on Monday. "I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company."

 

Stepping up to lead product development for all future versions of Windows will be Julie Larson-Green, who has led various projects at Microsoft since joining the company in 1993. Most recently, she was responsible for program management, UI design and research, and internationalization for Windows 7 and 8.

 

In addition to heading up the Windows group, Larson-Green's new role will see her in charge of engineering for future Windows-based hardware products, such as the company's recently launched Surface fondleslabs.

 

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer expressed the utmost confidence in Larson-Green, calling her "the best possible person for this job." Still, the responsibility of running Redmond's most important product divisions won't fall solely on her shoulders.

 

Bolstering her on the business side of affairs will be Tami Reller, currently chief financial officer and chief marketing officer for the Windows division, who will add a third hat to her already crowded head.

 

In her newly expanded role, Reller will be responsible for driving business and marketing strategy for Windows and all Windows-powered devices, including those manufactured by Microsoft partners.

 

Both women will report directly to Ballmer.

 

The leadership changes come on the heels of a series of significant new product launches for the Windows division, including not just Surface, but more importantly Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

 

Microsoft's news release gave no reason for Sinofsky's departure, but said that it is effective immediately.

[Arthur]

Sinofsky seems to be Microsoft's equivalent of Apple's Scott Forstall.

 

“He had no factions, except those who worked for him,” said one source. “He picked a lot of fights.”

 

That included with former chief software architect Ray Ozzie — who left Microsoft in 2010, in part after battling against Sinofsky over how the cloud-based world was shaping up and how Microsoft should respond.

 

Likewise, former Entertainment and Devices unit leaders Robbie Bach and J Allard also found themselves on the losing end of a corporate battle with Sinofsky, as Microsoft axed their planned Courier tablet and agreed to give tablet responsibilities to the Windows team. Both left the company in 2010.

 

Sinofsky also clashed with former Microsoft Business division head Stephen Elop, who left the company in 2010 to run Nokia, now an important partner in the smartphone business.

 

Having sided with Sinofsky in all those fights, though, Ballmer belatedly decided that he wasn't the right choice to bring the company together in the future. Sources said Ballmer raised those concerns with Gates, who agreed. (Source)

[sonofsanta]

What worries me is that Julie Larson-Green was responsible for UI design on early versions of IE and the UI redesign of Office. IE5 and the Ribbon on top of Modern UI? Maybe Ubuntu Unity will start looking better and better over the next few years...

[InterwebsGuy]

I've never understood the Ribbon hate. It's *not* that bad - it makes it easier to find the most commonly used features; sure there are going to be some people who use features that have been made harder to find by the Ribbon, but for most people once you're used to it, it is easier to use.

 

People just don't like change.

[jinnantonnixx]

What worries me is that Julie Larson-Green was responsible for UI design on early versions of IE and the UI redesign of Office. IE5 and the Ribbon on top of Modern UI? Maybe Ubuntu Unity will start looking better and better over the next few years...

 

Julie's not that popular amongst Microsofties. Observe the vitriol...

Mini-Microsoft: A Microsoft Without Sinofsky?

The comments make fascinating reading.

 

I won't hear a word against Unity! It's my desktop of choice, and there's a lot of choice.

Edited November 15, 2012 by jinnantonnixx

[localzuk]

They need someone with better overall vision there, that's for sure. Someone with proper 'joined up thinking' to use some horrible management speak.

 

For example, something as simple as release dates for their products - if you're going to release a new desktop OS and a new server OS, don't do it until you have your admin tools ready for them. We shouldn't have to wait 3 or 4 months until System Centre updates come out with support for those new OS's.

[CyberNerd]

For example, something as simple as release dates for their products - if you're going to release a new desktop OS and a new server OS, don't do it until you have your admin tools ready for them. We shouldn't have to wait 3 or 4 months until System Centre updates come out with support for those new OS's.

 

Nothing new here its what Microsoft have *always* done. Remember the mantra 'don't deploy until SP1' and 'RC is the new alpha'.

 

Some journalists now see this move as a turnaround for MS

http://semiaccurate.com/2012/11/14/microsoft-has-failed/