Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay is leaving for Amazon after the company made budget and staff cuts, canceled products in his division, and amid discussions about a reorganization in his unit, insiders say.
Microsoft, Panay, and Amazon did not comment.
During nearly 20 years at Microsoft, Panay was notably in charge of the team that developed the Surface hardware business.
Windows licensing and the unit's hardware underperformed relative to the company's financial projections, insiders say, and Microsoft responded by dramatically scaling back Panay's division.
At Microsoft, insiders say Panay was known as a demanding leader and expected "white glove service" on everything, meaning a premium experience with extra care and attention to detail.
Persons:
Panos Panay, Dave Limp, Alexa, Kristy Schmidt, Charlie Bell, Rajesh Jha, Satya Nadella, Microsoft's
Organizations:
Microsoft, Amazon, Bloomberg, Reuters
Locations:
Panay, New York