“Microsoft is reorganizing its Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD) and when it’s finished the two people that have largely defined it for the past few years will be gone. EDD group president Robbie Bach and J Allard, the group’s chief experience officer and chief technology officer, are leaving those positions and Microsoft as well,” John Paczkowski reports for AllThingsD. “Bach is said to be retiring; Allard — who’s been on sabbatical recently — is simply moving on, though he’ll remain an advisor to the company.”
“Interestingly, Microsoft isn’t replacing Bach. Instead the company is splitting his responisbilities between Senior VPs Andy Lees and Don Mattrick, who will oversee the company’s gaming and mobile businesses, respectively,” Paczkowski reports. “Mattrick and Lees will report directly to CEO Steve Ballmer who is evidently taking on more of a role in Microsoft’s consumer devices efforts, which — with the exception of the Xbox 360 — have stumbled in recent years.”
The full text of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s memo announcing the moves int he full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: The bigger the role Ballmer assumes, the better.
Excerpts from a BusinessWeek interview with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, October 12, 2004:
Steve Jobs: Apple had a monopoly on the graphical user interface for almost 10 years. That’s a long time. And how are monopolies lost? Think about it. Some very good product people invent some very good products, and the company achieves a monopoly. But after that, the product people aren’t the ones that drive the company forward anymore. It’s the marketing guys or the ones who expand the business into Latin America or whatever. Because what’s the point of focusing on making the product even better when the only company you can take business from is yourself? So a different group of people start to move up. And who usually ends up running the show? The sales guy… Then one day, the monopoly expires for whatever reason. But by then the best product people have left, or they’re no longer listened to. And so the company goes through this tumultuous time, and it either survives or it doesn’t.
BusinessWeek: Is this common in the industry?
Steve Jobs: Look at Microsoft — who’s running Microsoft?
BusinessWeek: Steve Ballmer.
Steve Jobs: Right, the sales guy. Case closed.
Hoist yer mugs! May Steve Ballmer remain Microsoft CEO for as long at it takes!
This is great! Ballmer is even more a part of Apples success!. Wait, I got it. Lets call him iBallmer, Apples new product to increase Market Cap.
Woo hoo!!!
All Hail their Great Leader!
@Mr. Reee
“Rats leave sinking ship, SS Microsoft!
Moby Dick remains at helm.”
Don’t you mean Captain Ahab? Moby Dick is a whale.
Well he is big as one so it can be easily confusing.
As if Xbox 360 hasn’t stumbled. Red ring of death mean anything?
Thank goodness they have the salesman in charge of the consumer devision for as long as it takes.
Cheers to Ballmer!
I like their strategy… I like it a lot!
Ballmer is looking more and more like Peter Boyle these days.
@TheConfuzed1
Ballmer does indeed. Of course, his larger role at MS might just be his weight gain. Still love that old vid of Ballmer “performing” to Puttin on the Ritz/Young Frankenstein.
As I tell my kids, I keep growing too (sideways) and am in perfect shape (pear). So maybe I should not throw stones or chairs.
Oh, yeah, this is sooooo cool! Ballmer’s gonna bring ’em back from the brink. Oh, wait, MS has already gone over the falls. Well, good luck anyway Mr. Ballmer. You’ll do just fine, thankyouverymuch.
And the “Wow!” just keeps on comin’. Best news I’ve read today…
“…as Ballmer assumes larger role”
Music to my ears. Speed the demolition!
Let’s get on with the future of computing already.
This thread reminds me of that old In Living Color skit, Men on Film:
“Moby Dick is a whale…”
“I bet he is!”
LMAO!!!
YEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHEEEEEEESSSSSSSS……
Ballmer should fire EVERYONE and take over their responsibilities. Please, God, let it be so…
The more responsibilty he assumes, the more inept he’ll become.
I have 2 bottles of Dom Perignon on ice: One I’m saving for when Apple passes MSFT in market cap. The other is for when Dell finally closes shop. That will be one sweet-ass day. SITAGTMBTTS, beyotch.
I have a feeling I’ll be popping the cork of one within the next 6-8 months. The second may take a bit longer, but will eventually happen.
MaWo: ‘herself’. As in, ‘Ballmer needs a man-boob bra for…’
“…Microsoft’s consumer devices efforts, which — with the exception of the Xbox 360…”
TechTard Bullshite! I call SHENANIGANS!
Reality: The Xbox has NEVER made a profit. It is deliberately sold as a loss leader in order for Microsoft to BUY their way into the video game market. Toss on top of that an OVER 50% FAIL RATE for XBox devices. (Yes trolls, this is a publicly published figure, so get lost).
What has ACTUALLY made a profit are Microsoft XBox GAMES. Period. The end.
correction: SIDAGTMBTTS
The Titanic is now halfway underwater, and the incompetent captain fires the first mate and helmsman. Good work, cap!
Honestly, I feel truly sorry for anyone working at Microsoft. I’m sure there are lots of good people there, capable of doing good work, hating the fact that they’re working for a used-car salesman, but not able to do anything about it because in this economy there aren’t many other jobs out there. What a life.
@Jim – TIV and HuskerMaxc
“No one who had ever looked at Balmer would confuse him for Ahab and not the Whale… ;-p
HuskerMaxc”
Never thought of it that way but, he’s more of a flounder rather than a whale don’t you think? It’s kind of insulting to whales to compare him to them.
To all you people that work for, or develop for MS… you’d better start learning Cocoa, or at the very least, Objective C…
I’m just sayin’…
MaWo: ‘plans’. As in, “MS’s aren’t necessarily yours…”
i.e: cover your a**.
@Mac That Roared: Never thought of it that way but, he’s more of a flounder rather than a whale don’t you think? It’s kind of insulting to whales to compare him to them.
Agreed. How could one argue with that!
But what about Roz Ho, the big mamma responsible for the incredible Kin phones? that one that turned the Sidekick into crap after MS bought Danger? let’s put her in charge of WinMo 7!
Best news I’ve heard all day…… What better way to help Apple grow to the largest tech company in the world!!
Best news I’ve heard all day…… What better way to help Apple grow to the largest tech company in the world!!
Best news I’ve heard all day…… What better way to help Apple grow to the largest tech company in the world!!
Best news I’ve heard all day…… What better way to help Apple grow to the largest tech company in the world!!
Best news I’ve heard all day…… What better way to help Apple grow to the largest tech company in the world!!