Sinofsky to Lead Windows Client, Online Services

Windows and online services will be under new management after a Mar. 2006 reorganization of the Platforms and Services group by Co-President Kevin Johnson, who will lead the group after the planned retirement of Co-President Jim Allchin. Most notably, Steven Sinofsky, the longtime leader of the Office team, will join the group and take over Windows client and Windows Live design. Sinofsky comes to Windows with an enviable record of predictable Office releases, but it’s not clear that he or any other single manager can tackle the organizational problems that delayed Vista’s release.

This article covers changes to the Platforms and Services organization at the vice-presidential level and above that resulted from the Mar. 2006 reorganization.

Sinofsky’s New Role

Windows client development and related online services have been placed under Sinofsky, while the former Windows Client unit has been disbanded. (For an illustration of the changes, see “Windows Client and Core Changes“.)

Steven Sinofsky has been named senior vice president, Windows and Windows Live Engineering. He will manage the design of the “Vienna” client, the Windows client release after Vista. Sinofsky will also work with Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie to help plan the next generation of online services as Microsoft moves to head off Google and Yahoo. Specifically, he will lead development desktop and Web search, desktop clients for Windows Live services, and consumer e-commerce services such as the Windows Live Expo (an online classified advertising service). All these services appear strategic not only as possible Windows features but also as new businesses for the Windows unit and competitive weapons against Google.