Report: Microsoft to Put Windows Phone Chief in Charge of All OS Development

From DailyTech: A report by Bloomberg cites sources at Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) as saying that Chief Executive Steve Ballmer's leadership change will start be consolidating all of Microsoft's hardware products -- including Surface and Xbox -- under a single new unit, which would be headed by Windows chief Julie Larson-Green.

The Xbox unit (formally the interactive entertainment division) had been left leaderless after Don Mattrick, its former chief, jumped ship to become CEO of Zynga Inc. (ZNGA). Some reports suggested Mr. Mattrick was fired for making comments about digital rights management (DRM) and the Xbox One. In an interview Mr. Mattrick had told gamers who didn't have 100 percent reliable internet to not buy an Xbox One, a suggestion many disgruntled gamers took to heart. Microsoft eventually backed down from that policy.

Microsoft's CIO Tony Scott also recently bailed, prior to the upcoming shakeup.

It is unclear whether Mr. Ballmer would then appoint a new Windows President, or if Ms. Larson-Green would fill both slots. One source says that Terry Myerson -- the current Windows Phone chief -- will likely be put in charge of all operating system development, including desktop Windows. That move would likely mean a continuation of Microsoft's "Metro" (aka Modern UI) assault on the desktop/laptop market, much to the chagrin of critics of that design direction.

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