From the press release
Microsoft Realigns for Next Wave of Innovation and Growth
REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 20, 2005 — In order to drive greater
agility in the execution of its software and services strategy, Microsoft Corp.
today announced a realignment of the company into three newly formed divisions,
each of which will be led by its own president. The Microsoft Platform Products
& Services Division will be led by Kevin Johnson and Jim Allchin as
co-presidents; Jeff Raikes has been named president of the Microsoft Business
Division; and Robbie Bach has been named as president of Microsoft Entertainment
& Devices Division. In addition, the company said Ray Ozzie will expand his
role as chief technical officer by assuming responsibility for helping drive its
software-based services strategy and execution across all three divisions.
The company also announced that Allchin plans to retire at the end of
calendar year 2006 following the commercial availability of Windows Vista™, the
next-generation Microsoft® Windows® operating system....
Microsoft Platform Products & Services Division
Johnson will succeed Allchin, taking ownership of the Microsoft Platform
Products & Services Division, which comprises Windows Client, Server and
Tools, and MSN®. To ensure a smooth transition, Johnson and Allchin
will serve as co-presidents until Allchin’s retirement next year. The new
division’s mission is to enable exciting user experiences and drive customer
value through continued innovation in the software platform and software
services delivered over the Internet.
"We are focused on creating exciting user experiences and enabling developers to
build great applications with the combination of software and software-based
services," Ballmer said. "Our MSN organization has great expertise in innovating
quickly and delivering software-based services at scale. The platform groups
have great expertise in creating a software platform and user experience that
touches millions of people. By combining these areas of expertise, we will
deliver greater value to our customers. David Cole, senior vice president, will
continue to lead MSN, reporting to Johnson.
It seems I was wrong about how long it would take MSN to become more
like Windows. The fun thing about Microsoft is that just when you think
you have the org chart figured out, we have a reorg. :)