Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Panos Panay, the Home windows and Floor {hardware} chief, is leaving Microsoft.
- This information comes simply days earlier than a serious Floor launch occasion and has no strong rationalization.
- A rumor suggests he might be leaping ship to Amazon.
Replace, September 18, 2023 (03:18 PM ET): A brand new report from Bloomberg suggests Panos Panay is perhaps headed to Amazon after his abrupt departure from Microsoft. If that’s the case, this might probably imply Panay can be rather more centered on {hardware} somewhat than software program. As of now, that is only a rumor, however we’d anticipate a full affirmation within the coming days.
Unique article, September 18, 2023 (11:37 AM ET): Microsoft Home windows and Floor {hardware} occasions are about to be an entire lot completely different. We’ve discovered as we speak, through The Verge, that Panos Panay is leaving Microsoft. Panay was identified for his off-the-cuff and low-key type of presenting new merchandise. He’s additionally the individual most immediately chargeable for the event of Home windows 11.
Panay joined Microsoft 19 years in the past. Over time, he climbed the ladder shortly to grow to be the chief product officer and, most lately, an govt vice chairman who studies on to Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella.
The reasoning behind Panay’s sudden exit from the corporate is unclear. The Verge discovered of the information from an inner memo from Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s vice chairman of expertise and units. Panay himself has posted the information on X, previously generally known as Twitter, however didn’t disclose the motivation behind the transfer. He merely stated he’s “determined to show the web page and write the subsequent chapter.”
The timing of this announcement couldn’t be worse. We’re simply days away from the launch of latest Microsoft Floor merchandise, which we assume Panay had an enormous hand in creating. On August 28, Panay even talked about his pleasure about main that occasion. Which means one thing sudden and drastic occurred between August 28 and as we speak to make Panay depart the corporate.
Microsoft confirmed that Panos Panay won’t even attend the brand new Floor launch on Thursday.
Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s company vice chairman of recent life, search, and units, will take Panay’s place in relation to exterior enterprise with OEMs and different companions. Engineering studies will now go to Mikhail Parakhin or Pavan Davuluri.
