Microsoft is splitting up its Windows and Devices Group today as part of a company-wide reorg[1]. As part of that reorg, 21-year Microsoft veteran and Executive Vice President Terry Myerson is leaving the company[2].
Myerson became head of the Windows and Devices Group in 2013. Since then, he has been overseeing 17,000 engineers. Microsoft is approaching 700 million active Windows 10 users now.
In his email to the company's employees, Myerson says he had been discussing his departure with CEO Satya Nadella "for some time." He said his next priorities are to train for a half Ironman, learn to play piano or guitar and learn more about genomics and robotics, plus spend more time with his family.
Here's Myerson's March 29 mail to Microsoft employees (which Microsoft also posted to LinkedIn[3]).
Thank you for 21 years, and onto the next chapter...
It is an emotional day for me as I look toward starting my next chapter outside of Microsoft in a few months. Satya and I have been discussing this for some time, but today it becomes real. Actually sharing the news with the team, customers, and partners has been an incredibly intense experience. Microsoft has been my work, my team, and my purpose for 21 years.
The decision comes with a lot of reflection and special memories of the past two decades. With a blog like this, hopefully I can share a few lessons learned, and my ongoing enthusiasm for Microsoft.
It's surreal to look back on how it all started. I recall meeting Bill Gates in 1996 as Microsoft was evaluating buying Intersé, one of the earliest Internet companies, which I founded with Midori Chan and Ed Hott