Floor and Home windows chief Panos Panay is leaving Microsoft for Amazon

If in case you have some familiarity with the know-how business, you’ve undoubtedly come to know Panos Panay lately. He’s the Microsoft government that launched the corporate’s Floor lineup and extra just lately took over administration of Home windows as nicely. He’s been a well-known face for Microsoft — possible on the identical stage of celeb as Xbox’s Phil Spencer or the corporate’s CEO Satya Nadella.

Nonetheless, after that rise to fame and success and virtually 20 years with the corporate, Panos Panay has introduced that he’s leaving Microsoft. In a tweet (yeah, that’s proper), the manager introduced that he has determined to “flip the web page and write the subsequent chapter.”

After 19 unimaginable years at Microsoft, I’ve determined to show the web page and write the subsequent chapter. I’m endlessly grateful for my time at Microsoft and the wonderful folks I had the dignity to make merchandise with.

— Panos Panay (@panos_panay) September 18, 2023

The information was a shock to the business, particularly contemplating the truth that Panay was anticipated to current at Microsoft’s September occasion, which can kick off later this week on the twenty first. The occasion, which Panay himself mentioned he was excited to attend, is anticipated to function information about new Floor units in addition to the corporate’s new developments in synthetic intelligence.

So, if Panay is leaving Microsoft, the place is he going? Apparently, the manager is heading to Amazon. In a report, Bloomberg revealed Panay can be changing the outgoing Dave Limp and taking up the corporate’s division that heads up its ambitions with Alexa and its Echo audio system. Amazon is about to host its personal devices-focused occasion on Wednesday, a day earlier than Microsoft’s Floor occasion, so the timing may be very curious.

Every little thing Microsoft introduced at its 2022 Floor occasion. Picture supply: Microsoft

Whereas Microsoft and Amazon have each declined to touch upon that potential transfer for Panay, we do know for positive that he’s leaving his present employer. In an inside electronic mail obtained by The Verge, Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s vice chairman of expertise and units, formally introduced Panay’s departure, revealing that Yusuf Mehdi, the corporate’s present shopper advertising head, can be taking up Home windows and Floor from Panay.

You may learn Jha’s full electronic mail to staff about Panay’s departure beneath:

Crew,

After almost 20 years on the firm, Panos Panay has determined to go away Microsoft. Panos has had an unimaginable impression on our merchandise and tradition in addition to the broader units ecosystem. Below Panos’ management, the crew created the enduring Floor model with cherished merchandise. Extra just lately, because the chief of Home windows, the crew has introduced wonderful companies and experiences to a whole lot of thousands and thousands with Home windows 11 on modern units together with these from our OEM companions. He can be missed, and I’m personally very grateful for his many contributions over time. Please be part of me in wishing him nicely.

Transferring ahead, we are going to double down on our technique. These adjustments can be efficient instantly with Panos’ assist in the transition.

Construct silicon, techniques and units that span Home windows, consumer and cloud for an AI world. This crew can be led by Pavan Davuluri, who will report on to me. Brett Ostrum, Nino Storniolo, Linda Averett, Ken Pan, Ralf Groene, Aidan Marcuss, Carlos Picoto, Stevie Bathiche, Robin Seiler, Ruben Caballero and Anuj Gosalia will transfer to report back to Pavan with their groups intact. Home windows planning and launch administration will proceed to be on this crew. Our dedication to Floor and MR stays unchanged.

Construct experiences that mix net, companies and Home windows for an AI world. To this finish, Shilpa Ranganathan, Jeff Johnson and Ali Akgun will straight report back to Mikhail Parakhin and kind a brand new Home windows and Internet Experiences Crew, shifting with their groups intact.

Yusuf Mehdi will tackle the accountability of main the Home windows and Floor companies with our OEM and Retail companions.

As well as, Charles Simonyi, Terri Chudzik and Erin Kolb will be part of the E+D administration groups and Ralf Groene and Mike Davidson will work collectively on the most effective alignment on design groups.

We are going to arrange time for an AMA within the coming days to reply questions. Let’s proceed to remain centered on executing on our present plans. Thanks for all that you just do, and the impression that you’ve got for our clients and companions.

Greatest,

Rajesh

I’ll personally miss seeing Panay speaking about circulation and the way pumped he’s for brand new Floor units, however I’m glad to listen to that we possible gained’t be saying goodbye for lengthy. Perhaps Panay will bust out of the wall on the Amazon occasion on Wednesday just like the Kool-Help Man?