Microsoft fires Windows president?

[DKT27]

Steven Sinofsky, the head of Windows at Microsoft, has left the company effective immediately. Julie Larson-Green and Tami Reller will be taking charge of different aspects of the Windows division

Steven Sinofsky, the head of Windows and the guy who presided over the launch of both Windows 8 and the Surface, has officially left Microsoft effective immediately. According to a Microsoft press release announcing the leadership shakeup, Julie Larson-Green will be promoted to head of all Windows software and hardware engineering, while CFO and CMO Tami Reller takes on the business of Windows.

AllThingsD reports that there has been growing tension between Sinofsky and other executives at Microsoft, and the two decided to part ways mutually. Sinfosky has been at Microsoft since 1989, working mostly in the Office unit before his promotion to President of the Windows Division in 2009. His duties as President included work on Internet Explorer, Outlook.com, SkyDrive and other (former) Live services, as well as restoring the Windows division after Vista's less than desirable launch.

In a press release by Microsoft, CEO Steve Ballmer says:

I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company. The products and services we have delivered to the market in the past few months mark the launch of a new era at Microsoft.... To continue this success it is imperative that we continue to drive alignment across all Microsoft teams, and have more integrated and rapid development cycles for our offerings

Sinofsky follows by saying:

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

The Verge also has this letter, written by Steve Ballmer to the team on Sinofsky's departure:

Over the past few months we have delivered the foundation for a new era for Microsoft. From Office to Bing to Windows Phone and Windows Azure, to Xbox and of course Windows and Surface and everything in between, we’ve unleashed a huge wave of devices and services that people and businesses love. I simply couldn’t be more proud of the effort you have all put in to get us here and to set the foundation for our future. At the Windows launch in New York, at the Windows Phone event in San Francisco, and again at the Build event on Redmond campus, I was struck that while externally many people look at these events as the finish line, they really represent the starting line of a new era.

As we enter this new era, and with the successful launch of Windows 8 and Surface behind us, Steven Sinofsky has decided to leave the company. Steven joined Microsoft in 1989 as a software development engineer and has contributed to the company in many ways from his work as a technical advisor to Bill Gates, to leading the evolution of the Microsoft Office business, to his direction and successful leadership of Windows and Windows Live as well as Surface. I am grateful for the work that Steven has delivered in his time at our company. Effective immediately, Julie Larson-Green will lead Windows engineering. She will be responsible for all product development for Windows and Windows Live, in addition to Surface. Julie has been a stalwart leader of building compelling “experiences” from her time on Internet Explorer, through the evolution of Office and most recently to the re-imagination of Windows. Her unique product and innovation perspective and proven ability to effectively collaborate and drive a cross company agenda will serve us well as she takes on this new leadership role. All of the current Windows engineering teams will report into Julie, and Julie will report to me.

Tami Reller will lead business and marketing strategy for Windows including Surface and partner devices. She will provide broad stewardship to our PC marketing efforts while managing the line business functions for Windows. Her work on Windows since 2007 has been exemplary and her strong talents in working with internal groups and partners will also serve us well. Tami also will report to me.

We are facing a time of great opportunity. What we have accomplished over the past few years is nothing short of amazing, and I know we have more amazing in us. I am excited about our people, I am energized by our ability to change and grow, and I look forward to the success which lies ahead. Thank you for all you do, and please join me in congratulating our new leadership and celebrating all that we have accomplished so far.

Steve

This departure is perhaps as surprising as the departure of Scott Forstall from Apple late last month, and the future of Microsoft's Windows division could be very different without Sinofsky at the head.

View: Original Article

[Pedrito]

This proves once more how "great" Windows 8 is! :tooth:

[digimon]

maybe windows 8 is a bigger flop then even vista/me ever was

[alaindc]

i agree.

When the best hackers don't even try to crack it.

When even people who don't pay for the Os ... refuse to install it.

Something is wrong.

And this guy just pay the price...

[dcs18]

He seems to have got the boot for supporting Windows 7 - check out out the count of his finger gesture on the picture at the first post.

[Ganxxta]

He seems to have got the boot for supporting Windows 7 - check out out the count of his finger gesture on the picture at the first post.

Yeah i believe so too, I read somewhere that one of the Ladies that are now doing his Job designed Metro -.-

So more Metro to come :x :footinmouth:

[DKT27]

It's quite messed up. One side there is Windows 8. One side it's question that Windows 8 is a hit or a failure. One side it's Windows 8 hardware products. Another side is politics. Yet another side is so called this guy's arrogance. One side he likes change. Another side it seems he is the reason Microsoft Windows still has desktop. Too much confusion as of now.

[Olexijl]

That guy wanted simply be a successor of Ballmer. He wanted to be a Ballmer, if he ever get retired. That was his major failure.

[voodoohippie]

Instead of hackers trying to crack Windows 8 they are busy cracking the new computers to make drivers so that you can install Windows 7 or Modified Windows XP with more then 4GB support with the XP hack. Sorry I have to say even though Windows XP doesn't have the shiny graphics it works the best (especially for Radio Broadcasting and gaming). You'd be a king with 8GB support on Windows XP. 7 is nice too and they just got that one down pat with Internet Radio broadcasting software like SAM, Lunarcast, RadioDJ. Even Spacial Audio says they are having a hard time creating a version of SAM broadcaster to work with Windows 8 because the licensing validation technology won't work with Windows 8 (More hackers for legit users of SAM anyone)? With that said more Internet Radio broadcasters will either look at older OS's or go Linux or forget MS PC's altogether and go MAC and write plenty of FREE open source Radio Broadcasting software for it.

I have to say Windows is seeing its last days.

[myidisbb]

usually when one is fired they dont find anther job there for the person

[JessicaLeigh]

A few thoughts... I'm extremely happy that women were given the responsibility of his position post partum. Say what you will, but I'm confident to believe that more thought will go into Win 9 and 10; if Windows even makes it that far. Which leads me to Win 8... Its a complete nightmare; plain and simple. I've installed it, I've truly tried to get past the absence of the start menu, but I simply cannot. This is NOT the same as changing from W95 start menu to Win XP's GUI layout, nor is it the same as changing from 3.11's Program Manager vs. W95's start menu. There is a HUGE difference between revamping something, and taking something away. I don't give a damn about the "seamless look and feel" between PC and portable touch screen devices. It wouldn't have taken MS anything to leave in the now "old style" Win 7 start menu, if that was your comfort level. Not to mention the fact that I cannot believe that ANY major companies out there are ever going to adopt Win 8 because of such an oversight. Yes, I'm aware I can load up the bottom shortcut bar on the desktop just like I could on Apple iOS X / Mountain Lion, but if I wanted a Macintosh, I would have bought one a long time ago.

[visualbuffs]

maybe the president of windows is retiring ! not firing !

[Avitar]

... I'm extremely happy that women were given the responsibility of his position post partum (highly sexist opinion) Say what you will, but I'm confident to believe that more thought will go into Win 9 and 10;

...I read somewhere that one of the Ladies that are now doing his Job designed Metro...

So more Metro to come > :x :footinmouth:<

...Win 8... Its a complete nightmare; plain and simple.

So you're glad that a woman got on top, even if it means that she causes MS crash and burn and design a "nightmare" OS? Sure, more thought will go into making 9 and X. More thoughts by this lady on how to screw up the WIN OS. She removed the start button, maybe she'll remove explorer.exe or shell32.dll next :hypocrite:

[JessicaLeigh]

... I'm extremely happy that women were given the responsibility of his position post partum (highly sexist opinion) Say what you will, but I'm confident to believe that more thought will go into Win 9 and 10;

...I read somewhere that one of the Ladies that are now doing his Job designed Metro...

So more Metro to come > :x :footinmouth:<

...Win 8... Its a complete nightmare; plain and simple.

So you're glad that a woman got on top, even if it means that she causes MS crash and burn and design a "nightmare" OS? Sure, more thought will go into making 9 and X. More thoughts by this lady on how to screw up the WIN OS. She removed the start button, maybe she'll remove explorer.exe or shell32.dll next :hypocrite:

Sinofsky took away the start button and menu; NOT a woman. Typical of a man to think we women are less suitable for corporate leadership positions. It's not sexist; it's MY opinion, and I'm allowed to hold one. You're already assuming she will fail -- another tell-tale sign that men feel and are threatened by intelligent, competitive women. I'd bet anything that Sinofsky was asked to leave under his own recognizance, rather than to be fired. It would probably have affected Win 8 sales if it was a major firing announcement; leading the public to think of Win8 as big a mistake as Vista was.

[nIGHT]

So you're glad that a woman got on top, even if it means that she causes MS crash and burn and design a "nightmare" OS? Sure, more thought will go into making 9 and X. More thoughts by this lady on how to screw up the WIN OS. She removed the start button, maybe she'll remove explorer.exe or shell32.dll next :hypocrite:

Nooooooooo.......... :pos:

More versions of Windows Metro to come..... :wut: :pissed: :beg: :rant: :protest:

then... :sadbye: :sadbye: :sadbye:

Let's go linux then :win: :chug: :smoke: :thumbsup: :party:

Whether it's a man's or a woman's idea, the removal of the startmenu and aero sucks!

[DKT27]

... I'm extremely happy that women were given the responsibility of his position post partum (highly sexist opinion) Say what you will, but I'm confident to believe that more thought will go into Win 9 and 10;

...I read somewhere that one of the Ladies that are now doing his Job designed Metro...

So more Metro to come > :x :footinmouth:<

...Win 8... Its a complete nightmare; plain and simple.

So you're glad that a woman got on top, even if it means that she causes MS crash and burn and design a "nightmare" OS? Sure, more thought will go into making 9 and X. More thoughts by this lady on how to screw up the WIN OS. She removed the start button, maybe she'll remove explorer.exe or shell32.dll next :hypocrite:

Sinofsky took away the start button and menu; NOT a woman. Typical of a man to think we women are less suitable for corporate leadership positions. It's not sexist; it's MY opinion, and I'm allowed to hold one. You're already assuming she will fail -- another tell-tale sign that men feel and are threatened by intelligent, competitive women. I'd bet anything that Sinofsky was asked to leave under his own recognizance, rather than to be fired. It would probably have affected Win 8 sales if it was a major firing announcement; leading the public to think of Win8 as big a mistake as Vista was.

Stop with the male / female.

A male can manage a company well (Bill Gates for example) so can a female. You know who is the Chairperson of Mozilla Foundation (the one that owns Firefox, etc)? Mitchell Baker. By name she is Chairperson, but she is incharge in lot of things.

Hence, Man vs Woman debate is just nonsense. It should be selected by merit.

Now, who introduced this Metro crap is still unknown. Infact, I'll blame Steve Balmer instead of these two.

[LeetPirate]

Don't matter who came up with it, this is a corporate enterprise not a lemonade shop so it's obvious there had to be some approval board and surely the CEO is aware of all the latest projects that are approved. So the person who came up with the stupid idea is not to blame, there are many other people there who could have thrown out the idea but chose to go forward. Steve Jobs ruled with an iron fist when it came to telling employees that their idea is not worth doing, lol. maybe Microsoft executives are tree-hugging liberals... :thumbsdown:

[Avitar]

Stop with the male / female.

Forum rules dictate that I abide by a *cough* b1453d *cough* Staff member's instruction. Hence I will not add any further words of my own on the matter. #respect

Now, who introduced this Metro crap is still unknown. Infact, I'll blame Steve Balmer instead of these two.

[JessicaLeigh]

I surely hadn't thought my opinions would spark such controversy - I hope we may all live cohesively with the ability to agree to disagree. :P I'm a lover, not a fighter! <3 It was just nice to read that a woman was considered and chosen for the temporary responsibilities, that's all.

[Ganxxta]

Infact, I'll blame Steve Balmer instead of these two.

Yes thats the best idea :D