After an Almost Twenty-Year Stint at Microsoft, Chief Product Officer Panos Panay Departs the Tech Giant, Rumored to Join Amazon in a Role Related to Alexa and Echo Devices. Speculation Arouses the Possibility of Him Assuming the Vacant Position Left by the Recently Retired Executive, Dave Limp.
After nearly two decades of dedicated service, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer, Panos Panay, is bidding farewell to the company. Panay is renowned for his creation of the premium Surface product line at Microsoft in 2012, and his leadership has extended to Windows development and the company’s range of 2-in-1s and laptops.
Panay officially announced his departure from Microsoft in a heartfelt tweet, stating, “After 19 incredible years at Microsoft, I’ve decided to turn the page and write the next chapter. I’m forever grateful for my time at Microsoft and the amazing people I had the honor to make products with.” While Panay has not disclosed the specifics of his next career move, Bloomberg reports suggest he may assume a new role within Amazon’s division responsible for Alexa and Echo smart devices. This move could involve succeeding Dave Limp, the former Amazon executive who recently announced his retirement, though no official confirmation has been made.
Panay’s journey at Microsoft began in 2004 as a group program manager, where he gradually assumed responsibility for key products, including the Surface line. In 2018, he ascended to the role of chief product officer and played a pivotal role in the development of Windows 11. In 2021, he received a promotion to executive vice president and joined the top team advising Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella.
Following Panay’s announcement of his departure, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed his appreciation for Panay’s significant contributions to products, corporate culture, the company, and the broader industry throughout his two-decade tenure, stating, “I’m grateful for your leadership, support, and all you’ve done for Microsoft, our customers, and partners.”
Additionally, Microsoft revealed that Pavan Davuluri will lead a hardware engineering team responsible for various initiatives, including the development of Microsoft’s proprietary chips. This announcement was made in a staff email sent by Rajesh Jha, the Executive Vice President of the Experiences and Devices Group at Microsoft. Davuluri’s team will spearhead the development of new technologies tailored for an AI-driven world, a strategic initiative initiated by Rajesh Jha.
Microsoft is at the forefront of generative AI, incorporating it into an array of products, from cloud computing to search and productivity software like Office. The company is gearing up for a special event on September 21, where it is expected to unveil new Surface devices and make other significant announcements.
