the_tyrant
11-12-12, 10:07 PM
This is an interesting development in the tech world. Just earlier today, Steven Sinofsky, the head of the Windows division at Microsoft left the company, effective immediately.
news link:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/12/3638118/steven-sinofsky-leaving-microsoft
letter from Steve Ballmer (Microsoft CEO):
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/12/3638174/steve-ballmers-letter-to-team-on-sinofsky-departure
A profile on Steven Sinofsky himself:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57536905-75/steven-sinofsky-microsofts-controversial-mr-windows-8/
This change is surprising to say the least, my first thought was because his products have been doing poorly. This is quite inexplicable, since Windows 8 sold 4 million copies to end users on its launch weekend (this is to users, not OEMs). With Surface, people lined up outside the Microsoft store in the first time since Windows 95 to purchase a Microsoft product!
update:
Critically, Sinofsky was not ousted because of any issues with the launch of Windows 8 or the Surface, sources tellus; in fact, it's possible that his departure was already planned, but his ability to execute on Windows 8's retail release was seen as an asset worth keeping him around long enough to see it through. But his attitude (and skill set) as an aggressive, tightly-siloed Windows boss — not a holistic Microsoft boss — may have done him in. Given that the future of Microsoft's ecosystem would require tight collaboration between disparate divisions, Sinofsky's future path as an exeuctive at Microsoft was essentially at an end.
This is entirely believable, since the man is known to push others around, and to suppress other departments within Microsoft itself. With the new convergence strategy within Microsoft itself, it is understandable why his attitude may have caused issues.
news link:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/12/3638118/steven-sinofsky-leaving-microsoft
letter from Steve Ballmer (Microsoft CEO):
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/12/3638174/steve-ballmers-letter-to-team-on-sinofsky-departure
A profile on Steven Sinofsky himself:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57536905-75/steven-sinofsky-microsofts-controversial-mr-windows-8/
This change is surprising to say the least, my first thought was because his products have been doing poorly. This is quite inexplicable, since Windows 8 sold 4 million copies to end users on its launch weekend (this is to users, not OEMs). With Surface, people lined up outside the Microsoft store in the first time since Windows 95 to purchase a Microsoft product!
update:
Critically, Sinofsky was not ousted because of any issues with the launch of Windows 8 or the Surface, sources tellus; in fact, it's possible that his departure was already planned, but his ability to execute on Windows 8's retail release was seen as an asset worth keeping him around long enough to see it through. But his attitude (and skill set) as an aggressive, tightly-siloed Windows boss — not a holistic Microsoft boss — may have done him in. Given that the future of Microsoft's ecosystem would require tight collaboration between disparate divisions, Sinofsky's future path as an exeuctive at Microsoft was essentially at an end.
This is entirely believable, since the man is known to push others around, and to suppress other departments within Microsoft itself. With the new convergence strategy within Microsoft itself, it is understandable why his attitude may have caused issues.