Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi, who currently oversees the company’s consumer marketing efforts, will take on the responsibilities of managing Microsoft’s Surface and Windows businesses, collaborating with external PC manufacturers and retail partners. This transition comes as longtime product chief Panos Panay steps down from his role.
According to reports from Bloomberg, Panay is set to join Amazon.com to lead the division responsible for Amazon’s Alexa and Echo products, replacing David Limp, the current head of that unit, who has announced plans to retire this year.
While Microsoft has not officially commented on the Bloomberg report, Amazon has not responded to requests for comment.
Panos Panay’s departure marks the end of an almost two-decade tenure with Microsoft, during which he played a pivotal role in the creation of the Surface line of computers and, more recently, the launch of the Windows 11 operating system.
In a statement, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed gratitude for Panay’s significant contributions to the company, acknowledging his impact on products, company culture, and the industry.
Additionally, Microsoft announced that Pavan Davuluri will lead a hardware engineering team, which includes Microsoft’s efforts in developing its own semiconductor chips. This information was shared in a staff email by Rajesh Jha, the Executive Vice President of the Experiences and Devices Group at Microsoft.
Microsoft has been heavily investing in generative AI technology, integrating it into a wide range of its products, including cloud services, search, and productivity software like the Office suite.
The company has scheduled a “special event” for September 21, where it is expected to unveil updates to its Surface product lineup and potentially other announcements.
