News: Windows Head to Leave Microsoft

Reports yesterday have been confirmed that Steven Sinofsky, the Windows unit president will be leaving Microsoft effective immediately. Sinofsky was over both Windows 8 and Surface, and the departure seems to be a bit similar to that of Scott Forestall. It also seems that the majority of issues have been related to internal tensions involving Sinofsky.

Ina Fried of AllThingsD provides more information on the matter:

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…

…Microsoft is dividing Windows oversight among two top Sinofsky deputies. Julie Larson-Green will head up the engineering side of Windows, while Tami Reller, who has had headed marketing and served as the unit’s CFO, will have responsibility for the business side of things. Both will report to CEO Steve Ballmer.

Sinfosky, who took the reins of Windows in 2006, after a long career in the Office unit, helped restore order and discipline to the operating system following the boondoggle of Windows Vista. In the wake of that widely-panned release, Sinofsky spearheaded the development of the largely praised Windows 7 release before turning his attention to Windows 8–a far more radical overhaul of the software.

Harry Marks originally thought Sinofsky may have had enough, but now thinks he was removed:

It doesn’t sound like Sinofsky was forced out the way Forstall might have been. I absolutely believe he and Ballmer butted heads, as I’m sure he did with other execs. They’re all alpha males and females – it comes with the territory. But it seems much more likely that he was unhappy with the direction Ballmer was taking the company, and more importantly, Windows.

Sinofsky is a forward thinker. Ballmer has always had Microsoft in reverse.

Anyone else think it’s time for Microsoft to get rid of Steve Ballmer instead?