Microsoft unveils biggest reshuffle in three years
seattle/san francisco — Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella unveiled the company’s biggest reorganisation in three years, combining the divisions that focus on devices and software for businesses while moving the Windows operating system unit into the cloud operations.
It’s a sweeping set of changes that includes the departure of Windows chief and Microsoft veteran Terry Myerson and the appointment of Scott Guthrie to oversee the combined Windows and cloud business.
Nadella is also putting Office chief Rajesh Jha in charge of the newly-created Experiences & Devices team. This group will focus on how people interact with various computing devices, using multiple senses, Microsoft said in a memo.
Nadella is reshaping Microsoft to fit a world where the PC is no longer the centre of computing. The changes reflect the shrinking role of Windows, the operating system that runs most of the world’s PCs, as computing shifts toward areas like cloud, mobile, productivity and artificial intelligence software.
The shuffle moves work on Windows to the same team handling Microsoft’s Azure cloud software. The Windows devices team combines with Office software, with the goal of building laptops and tablets that appeal to users of Microsoft’s applications, including its Word and Excel programs and newer tools like e-mail and Skype.
“A unified platform-driven approach to product development and delivery should be beneficial for Microsoft,” said Mark Moerdler, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, in a report. He added that the changes are also likely to reduce duplication of engineering efforts and should save the company money. — Bloomberg