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Microsoft loses another Windows executive as Sinofsky shakeup concludes

Microsoft loses another Windows executive as Sinofsky shakeup concludes

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Microsoft’s big reorg last year left Terry Myerson in charge of Windows, and three Windows executives sidelined without jobs. The big changes came around six months after former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky departed the company in a surprise shakeup following the Windows 8 release. Two of the sidelined executives, Jon DeVaan and Grant George, left last year, and the third — Antoine Leblond — is leaving Microsoft this week. Recode reports that Leblond, who has worked at Microsoft for 25 years, will leave the company after Monday, just days before the Build developer conference he has typically presented at over the years.

Leblond worked on Microsoft Office for 20 years, with a lot of time spent working alongside Steven Sinofsky. He moved to the Windows division at the same time as Sinofsky, and helped develop the Windows Store and cloud services for Windows 8. "After almost 25 years, I’ve decided it’s time for me to go out and see what the non-Microsoft world has to offer," Leblond wrote in an email to colleagues. "I am sad to leave all of you, but also incredibly excited for what comes next."

End of an era

All three sidelined executives worked very closely with former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky, and his ousting has shaken up the Windows division fully. Leblond’s exit also follows similar departures by former Skype CEO Tony Bates and marketing chief Tami Reller, who is planning to leave shortly. Reller also worked closely with Sinofsky, and took over the business side of Windows temporarily after Sinofsky’s departure. Microsoft’s big reorg shuffle appears to have settled now, with Julie Larson-Green, who temporarily took over Windows following Sinofsky's exit, taking a new role as chief experience officer in the apps and services group.