Microsoft Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky Out Following Windows 8 and Surface Launches

MacRumors · Nov 13, 2012, 01:43 PM

Late yesterday, Microsoft announced its own management shakeup, with Windows and Windows Live President Steven Sinofsky stepping down from the role he had held for over three years. Sinofsky's position is now being split, with Windows executive Julie Larson-Green taking on oversight of engineering and Windows chief financial officer and chief marketing officer Tami Reller adding responsibility for the remainder of the business aspects of the Windows business unit.

Quote:

"I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company," [Microsoft CEO Steve] Ballmer said. "The products and services we have delivered to the market in the past few months mark the launch of a new era at Microsoft. We've built an incredible foundation with new releases of Microsoft Office, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Microsoft Surface, Windows Server 2012 and 'Halo 4,' and great integration of services such as Bing, Skype and Xbox across all our products. 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."

The move is being seen by some as a parallel to the impending departure of iOS chief Scott Forstall at Apple, with AllThingsD reporting that executive tensions involving Sinofsky had simply reached a breaking point.

Quote:

Sources have said the move came amid growing tension between Sinofsky and other top executives. Sinofsky, though seen as highly talented, was viewed at the top levels as not the kind of team player that the company was looking for.

Sinofsky's departure comes just weeks after several high-profile product introductions for Microsoft's Windows division, with the company launching Windows 8 and its Surface tablet late last month.

Article Link: Microsoft Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky Out Following Windows 8 and Surface Launches

arunim · Nov 13, 2012, 01:45 PM

Expected this.. Windows 8 is a fail for desktop, but very good innovation for tablet.

gmanist1000 · Nov 13, 2012, 01:46 PM

Apple hires Steven Sinofsky.
Microsoft hires Scott Forstall.

MMOTotal · Nov 13, 2012, 01:47 PM

Shame, didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing.

likemyorbs · Nov 13, 2012, 01:48 PM

If Microsoft really wants to help themselves, the only Steve they need to get rid of is Ballmer.

nikhsub1 · Nov 13, 2012, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunim

...Windows 8 is a fail for desktop, but very good innovation for tablet.

100% on point. I will go so far as to say that it is almost unusable as desktop software.

Daveoc64 · Nov 13, 2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunim

Expected this.. Windows 8 is a fail for desktop, but very good innovation for tablet.

The sales don't back that up.

tigres · Nov 13, 2012, 01:50 PM

He doesn't look intimidating, but windows 8 for desktops does.

fiveainone · Nov 13, 2012, 01:51 PM

Time for Apple to sue Microsoft for copying what they're doing!

gmanist1000 · Nov 13, 2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunim

Expected this.. Windows 8 is a fail for desktop, but very good innovation for tablet.

That's why I'm staying with Windows 7.

futbalguy · Nov 13, 2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikhsub1

100% on point. I will go so far as to say that it is almost unusable as desktop software.

But has there even been a judgement of the Windows 8 impact on Microsoft yet? Seems pretty soon, and tablet sales may very well overtake computer sales in the future. I dont know that Windows 8 being good or bad is part of the reason hes leaving.

flopticalcube · Nov 13, 2012, 01:52 PM

Ballmer is the failure here. Why doesn't the board give him the heave-ho?

Mac Fly (film) · Nov 13, 2012, 01:52 PM

Makes predictable comment.

IJ Reilly · Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM

Sinofsky seemed like one of the best people in Microsoft's leadership. Usually, "not a team player" really means "doesn't agree with the boss."

boss.king · Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikhsub1

100% on point. I will go so far as to say that it is almost unusable as desktop software.

Do you say that as someone who's never used it before? Because the desktop is still right there, just as good as it was in Windows 7.

trunten · Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM

Apple should sue. Blatant copying.

iMikeT · Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM

I say they get rid of the guy who started that "Developers, developers, developers....." chant.

Rogifan · Nov 13, 2012, 01:57 PM

He's leaving because like Forstall he apparently is a major a-hole who didn't work well with other areas of Microsoft. Also rumor is he pushed Ballmer to make him next in line for CEO and Ballmer refused.

bbeagle · Nov 13, 2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMikeT

I say they get rid of the guy who started that "Developers, developers, developers....." chant.

I don't know who you're talking about.

bungiefan89 · Nov 13, 2012, 01:58 PM

Julie Larson-Green is taking over his position, and I get to interview her tomorrow!

miknos · Nov 13, 2012, 01:59 PM

Maybe because the new Windows RT is crap*?

According to most reviewers.

Dr McKay · 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunim

Expected this.. Windows 8 is a fail for desktop, but very good innovation for tablet.

He's not the one responsible for Windows 8's radical shift. Julie Larson Green is, she's also the one who designed the ribbon interface.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikhsub1

100% on point. I will go so far as to say that it is almost unusable as desktop software.

Seems pretty usable to me, and I've been using it since February. It's Windows 7 but sleeker, more refined and faster. Seriously the only major difference is the Start Menu is now fullscreen, but then you can now organise it to your hearts content.

rjohnstone · Nov 13, 2012, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikhsub1

100% on point. I will go so far as to say that it is almost unusable as desktop software.

Nothing wrong with it on a desktop.
In fact it's very usable.
It's different than 7, but you get used to it pretty quick.
Typing this on a Win 8 desktop right now.

As for Sinofsky, he had major problems working with other departments.
Real douche to other management teams from what I understand.

kdarling · Nov 13, 2012, 02:01 PM

Business Insider claims it's because he wanted Ballmer's job... threatened to quit if he didn't get it, and someone called his bluff.

bushido · Nov 13, 2012, 02:02 PM

Windows 8 is the worst. those active corners arent mouse friendly at all and it took me literally 20 minutes to figure out how to close an app and how to turn the machine off.

with all those dif. windows editions, ms should have released a desktop specific edition

Nov 13, 2012, 01:45 PM	#2
arunim macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2009	Expected this.. Windows 8 is a fail for desktop, but very good innovation for tablet.
	32

Nov 13, 2012, 01:46 PM	#3
gmanist1000 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2009	Apple hires Steven Sinofsky. Microsoft hires Scott Forstall. __________________ Tech Reviews on YouTube http://goo.gl/3zjZP Latest Video: Bose AE2w Bluetooth Headphones Review
	48

Nov 13, 2012, 01:47 PM	#4
MMOTotal macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Azeroth	Shame, didn't see anything wrong with what he was doing. __________________ People always find something to complain about
	5

Nov 13, 2012, 01:48 PM	#5
likemyorbs macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ	If Microsoft really wants to help themselves, the only Steve they need to get rid of is Ballmer. __________________ "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose." ~Steve Jobs
	88

Nov 13, 2012, 01:50 PM	#8
tigres macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Land of the Free-Waiting for Term Limits	He doesn't look intimidating, but windows 8 for desktops does. __________________ Quicker than two shakes of a lambs tail
	1

Nov 13, 2012, 01:51 PM	#9
fiveainone macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2011	Time for Apple to sue Microsoft for copying what they're doing!
	23

Nov 13, 2012, 01:52 PM	#12
flopticalcube macrumors G4 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the velcro closure of America's Hat	Ballmer is the failure here. Why doesn't the board give him the heave-ho? __________________ Read the Rules / Search the Forums / Use a Descriptive Title Mac Won't Boot?
	18

Nov 13, 2012, 01:52 PM	#13
Mac Fly (film) macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ireland	Makes predictable comment.
	4

Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM	#14
IJ Reilly macrumors G5 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Palookaville	Sinofsky seemed like one of the best people in Microsoft's leadership. Usually, "not a team player" really means "doesn't agree with the boss." __________________ **The season starts too early and finishes too late and there are too many games in between.* Bill Veeck
	16

Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM	#16
trunten macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007	Apple should sue. Blatant copying.
	9

Nov 13, 2012, 01:53 PM	#17
iMikeT macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California	I say they get rid of the guy who started that "Developers, developers, developers....." chant.
	3

Nov 13, 2012, 01:57 PM	#18
Rogifan macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2011	He's leaving because like Forstall he apparently is a major a-hole who didn't work well with other areas of Microsoft. Also rumor is he pushed Ballmer to make him next in line for CEO and Ballmer refused. __________________ I love Apple products but am not a Steve Jobs fanboy
	2

Nov 13, 2012, 01:58 PM	#20
bungiefan89 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2011	Julie Larson-Green is taking over his position, and I get to interview her tomorrow! __________________ 27" 2011 iMac, 3.4 GHz, 12GB RAM, 2GB VRAM - Late 2009 Macbook, 2.26 GHz, 4GB RAM - iPod touch 32GB 4g
	3

Nov 13, 2012, 01:59 PM	#21
miknos macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2008	Maybe because the new Windows RT is crap*? According to most reviewers.
	3

Nov 13, 2012, 02:01 PM	#24
kdarling macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Device engineer for 30 yrs, touchscreens for 20.	Business Insider claims it's because he wanted Ballmer's job... threatened to quit if he didn't get it, and someone called his bluff.
	3

Nov 13, 2012, 02:02 PM	#25
bushido macrumors 68040 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Germany, Europe	Windows 8 is the worst. those active corners arent mouse friendly at all and it took me literally 20 minutes to figure out how to close an app and how to turn the machine off. with all those dif. windows editions, ms should have released a desktop specific edition
	16

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