17 Microsoft Executives Determining the Companys Future

by Nicholas Kolakowski

Most Wall Street analysts seem to love Ballmer for Microsoft’s ability to deliver high revenues and profits, but Microsoft’s board of directors also recently declined to fulfill his full financial award for the year—thanks in part to the Kin phone fiasco, and the company’s falling share in the mobile space.

As Microsoft’s most recent quarterly earnings demonstrated, the Office franchise—headlined by Office 2010—remains one of the company’s main product pillars. The release of Office 365, following Office Web Apps, shows the division’s involvement in Microsoft’s “all in” cloud strategy.

Having inherited the chief software architect title from Bill Gates, Ozzie was instrumental in shaping Microsoft’s current cloud strategy. His responsibilities also included initiatives such as the social networking-centric FUSE Labs. His departure date has not yet been announced.

As president of the Mobile Communications Business, Lees’ job involves shepherding Windows Phone 7 into the marketplace. Given the rising prominence of mobile devices, and Microsoft’s need to make up ground lost to Google and Apple, it’s also a vital one.??í

Microsoft’s STB division is a key part of its enterprise strategy. Products that fall under the division’s umbrella include Windows Azure, making it vital in Microsoft’s cloud-based efforts. In a keynote discussion at October’s Gartner conference in Orlando, Fla., Ballmer described the STB division as essentially Microsoft’s Azure division.

The Interactive Entertainment Business is responsible for Xbox 360, Xbox Live and the hands-free Kinect controller. Considering the importance of the Xbox 360 platform to Microsoft’s overall fortunes—both the console and its games, especially “Halo,” are frequently cited as revenue drivers—there’s a pressing need for the division to perform.

Windows and Internet Explorer represent two of Microsoft’s key franchises—perhaps the key franchises, at least for the moment. Windows 7 enjoyed a successful launch—with more than 240 million licenses sold to date—but rumors suggest his team is already working on Windows 8, possibly for a 2012 release.

Microsoft’s Online Services Division is responsible for the company’s Web portal and search efforts, i.e., the company’s primary instrument for challenging Google. Although the division has consistently lost money, Microsoft evidently views its endeavors—and thus Qi Lu’s management—as a vital part of future strategy.??í

IMAGE #9 Name: Kevin TurnerTitle: Chief Operating Officer
Turner oversees Microsoft’s worldwide sales, marketing and services. That means everything from the online advertising sales organization to Microsoft’s nascent retail-stores business.

Klein supervises Microsoft’s financial structure. The former CFO of Microsoft’s STB division, he’s also one of the main voices on the company’s quarterly earnings call.

Being responsible for Microsoft’s long-term technology strategy, and interfacing with government officials, positions Mundie to influence the company’s direction in long-term ways.

Title: Corporate Vice President of Windows Phone Program ManagementThe importance of Windows Phone 7 (and any successors) to Microsoft’s corporate strategy makes Belfiore, who oversees the platform’s design and “software product definition,” a key player.

Courtois is responsible for Microsoft International’s sales, marketing and services, which includes 100 subsidiaries in 240 countries.

Tech titans’ battles over patent-infringement and intellectual property have increased of late. That, combined with Microsoft’s other legal and governmental issues, creates a potential minefield that Microsoft trusts Smith to navigate.??í

Microsoft invests substantial sums of money in research and development, hoping its labs will produce the next billion-dollar product. Rashid oversees the company’s 850 researchers in six global labs.

Tatarinov supervises the part of Microsoft responsible for business solutions such as supply-chain management (ERP and CRM), which are vital in the company’s competition against Oracle and others.

Earlier in 2010, J Allard announced he was leaving Microsoft, but would continue to advise Ballmer. Despite the massive shakeup that heralded Allard’s departure (as well as that of E&D President Robbie Bach), chances are good that an executive who helped push Xbox and other key products onto the marketplace will continue to have a receptive ear in Redmond’s executive suites.??í