Panos Panay begins to put his stamp on Windows with news of org shakeup

In February, former head of Surface devices Panos Panay took over as head of a newly created Windows + Devices team, and today news is filtering out that some major shuffling is taking place within the org. In an email viewed by Petri.com and Thurrott.com, Panay redefines the purpose of the team, especially in light of the rapidly changing tech environment due to the coronavirus. Paul Thurrott quotes Panay from the email:

In taking the next step, our focus is on product-making, aligning experiences across the company, and inspiring our broad and vibrant ecosystem. Our desire is to create end-user pull across all segments of the business. As we move forward, I’m energized and passionate about the incredible opportunity in front of us.

Panay goes on to describe three basic pillars of the business:

• Deliver iconic experiences across Microsoft, lighting up both modern work and life.
• Grow the business of Windows and Surface, delivering the best of Microsoft and creating end-user pull.
• Lead the industry through innovation and technology, enabling our ecosystem of partners to thrive.

To do that, Panay announced a number of personnel changes, including some new members to the team:

• Jeff Johnson will lead the new Windows, Developers and Experiences (WDX) Engineering team
• Linda Averett will join W +D to lead the WDX PM team
• Michael Fortin will join W + D to lead a new team combining a number of teams across Microsoft, including COSINE (Core OS and Intelligent Edge) and 365 Experience and Services. Brad Sams explains that Project Reunion will fall under Fortin, now.
• Aidan Marcuss will move from Devices COO “to lead Windows product planning, ecosystem (including the Windows Ecosystem Enablement team), Store, and 1^st– and 3rd-party apps.”
• Brett Ostrum will lead Devices product and roadmap, leading “a single point of ownership” for Surface, including Foldables
• Robin Seiler will elad the Devices Portfolio and Operations (DPO) team, covering end to end business strategy for Windows and Devices

In addition, Mary Jo Foley is reporting that these changes are affecting Azure as well, with part the COSINE team moving over to Windows + Devices, but some of the Windows Core part of the team remaining in Azure under Jason Zander. New to Azure will be a new Azure Core team, uniting Compute and Networking and Storage Services, under Girish Bablani.

With Microsoft set to release the long awaited Surface Duo, and growing indications that it’s finally retaking an interest in consumer with the bombshell news of a pursuit of a TikTok acquisition, and now this renewed focus on product-making, things may be looking up for the Microsoft consumer enthusiast.