Controversial Windows boss Steven Sinofsky leaves Microsoft

Steven Sinofsky talks up Microsoft's Surface tablet at the company's unveiling event at Chelsea Piers in New York. / Seth Rosenblatt/CNET

Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft executive who turned its Windows franchise around and just led the effort to release Windows 8, is leaving the company, effective immediately.

Sinofsky, a controversial figure at the company, was the subject of a recent CNET profile that explored his polarizing ways. Insiders said he was warring with Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer.

The company said the decision behind Sinofsky's departure was mutual, though the abruptness of the announcement might suggest otherwise.

"I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company," Ballmer said.

Sinofsky was equally gracious in his comments.

"It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company," Sinofsky said in a statement.

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Microsoft promoted Sinofsky's longtime lieutenant, Julie Larson-Green, to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller, the chief financial officer and chief marketing officer in the Windows group, will take over responsibility for the business of Windows. Both executives will report directly to Ballmer.

Some Microsoft watchers had pegged Sinofsky as a CEO-in-waiting, but he developed a reputation for being divisive and not working well with executives in other divisions.

"Steven is a rare talent," a Microsoft executive told CNET in last month's profile of him. But "as you think about future leadership, collaboration will be critical in a way it has never has before."

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The evolution of Microsoft Windows

Sinofsky joined Microsoft in July 1989 as a software design engineer, fresh from earning a master's degree in computer science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Within three years, he was elevated to technical assistant for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a top job for an aspiring young Microsoftie.

In 1999, he became senior vice president of Office, responsible for leading the effort to release productivity software suite. His success with shipping a quality version of Office regularly and on time, led Microsoft's brass to tap him to run the Windows division. In 2006, Sinofsky became senior vice president of the Windows and Windows Live group. Three years later, Sinofsky was promoted to president of the Windows division.

He helped restore Windows from the debacle that was Windows Vista, a widely panned and dramatically late version of the company's flagship product. Windows 7 was his first effort, a solid product that cleaned up much of the mess that Vista left behind. Windows 8 debuted last month. While it's too early to tell how well it's doing, the product has won kudos and raised some concern for its bold user interface design, a striking departure from previous versions.

With Sinofsky out the door, the list of possible successors to Ballmer shrinks by one. Internally, some have speculated that Kevin Turner, the voluble chief operating officer, might be next in line. But Turner, who joined Microsoft from Wal-Mart Stores, doesn't have the technical chops that might be a requirement for the post.

Potential outside candidates could include Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings, who said last month that he wouldn't stand for re-election to Microsoft's board in order to focus on Netflix. But some have speculated that Microsoft might be interested in buying the video service, which could put him in position to succeed Ballmer.

This post originally appeared on CNET.

[Josephz_L_Cooke]

He's on his way over to Ford to word on the Edsel project. Or, to Atlanta to work on the new Coke.

Windows 8 defines corporate idiocy.

[tmittelstaed]

Sinofsky isn't being let go for being divisive. He is fleeing because he has access to marketing information that is showing that Windows 8 will be a huge flop, and will not change Microsoft's miserable share of the mobile market.

[elektronichouse]

Prefer Microsoft Surface

[Fill_F_Fill]

I doubt he prefers it after it embarrassingly crashed while he was on stage trying to demo it. If I were him, I'd be throwing things at the engineers that made it. Of course, it's not the first time we've see something from Microsoft do the equivalent of blue screening (or literally that) with even somebody as prominent as Bill Gates at the stage. Maybe they just have dumb luck with demos?

[kdanielwong]

Reed Hastings? You've got to be kidding!

[Fill_F_Fill]

"Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft executive who turned its Windows franchise around and just led the effort to release Windows 8"

Yeah.... check out his demo of the Surface: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QRWa68MtLc

[climatechangepfft]

Reed Hastings? Microsoft will be in serious trouble should it ever pick Hastings to run things.

[dobermantmacleod]

Steven Sinofsky will probably go into AI. HMM are the answer! The newest concept is "synthetic neocortex extenders," where connection of our brain to sources of data result in an extension of our nervous system.

[dkjack]

Key executive let go for being "divisive".

Wow, does that have a familiar ring!