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Microsoft Plays Musical Chairs in the Windows Division

Microsoft is getting a new layout that is making deep inroads. Incoming Windows head Steven Sinofsky, who will replace Jim Allchin, is bringing in a new head of engineering. The change of guard inside the Microsoft division building the company's flagship product continues with several top executives working on the Windows Vista operating system being given new assignments after the product is complete.

19-year Microsoft veteran Brian Valentine, who has led Windows development since 1998, will share his role with Jon DeVaan, Senior Vice President of Engineering. Valentine will then be transitioned out of the Windows group to a new, unspecified role. Microsoft also plans to move a number of other high-ranking engineers under company CTO Ray Ozzie following Vista's release to manufacturing.

"The old guard of Windows who oversaw Vista, for better or worse, has been moving out," said Rob Helm, director of research at Directions on Microsoft, a Kirkland-based company that provides independent industry analysis.
Microsoft, which is expected to put Vista in broad distribution early next year, is making the changes to ensure "a strong plan and leadership team for the future and accommodate strong employees who will desire a change after completing such a significant project," the company said in a statement.

Microsoft also announced that upon completion of Vista, Dave Cutler, a senior technical fellow, and Amitabh Srivastava, corporate vice president in the core operating-system division, will work directly for Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie on the Internet-services effort dubbed Live.


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