[Techtaffy Newsdesk]
Windows and Windows Live president Steven Sinofsky is leaving Microsoft, just a few days after the company launched the latest version of its flagship operating system, Windows 8. Microsoft is splitting up the responsibilities into two, and dividing the job between two senior executives – Julie Larson-Green and Tami Reller.
Julie Larson-Green will now be leading all Windows software and hardware engineering. In her new role she will be responsible for all future Windows product development in addition to future hardware opportunities.
Tami Reller retains her roles as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer and now assumes responsibility for the Windows business as well. Both executives will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. . In her expanded role she will assume the lead in driving business and marketing strategy for Windows devices, including Surface and partner devices, in addition to her current marketing and finance responsibilities.
Ms. Larson-Green has been with Microsoft since 1993, and has worked on some of the most successful products for Microsoft, including user experiences for early versions of Internet Explorer. Ms. Larson-Green was responsible for program management, user interface design and research, as well as development of all international releases for Windows 7 and Windows 8. She has a master’s degree in software engineering from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Washington University.
Ms. Reller joined Windows in 2007 from the Microsoft Dynamics Division where she held a number of leadership positions. She began her career in technology at Great Plains Software in 1984 while still in college, and was the company’s chief financial officer at the time the company was acquired by Microsoft in 2001. She has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Minnesota State University Moorhead and an MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif.
[Image: Ms. Julie Larson-Green]