Panos Panay, the guy who turned Microsoft upside down

Here we have a huge departure, which will definitely affect the course of the company.

In a surprising turn of events, the tech world was shocked last September when Panos Panay, the visionary behind “Surface” devices and Windows 11, said goodbye to Microsoft. This departure is pivotal for him, but also for the company that was his professional home for over 19 years.

Who is Panos Panay

Panos Panay, of Greek Cypriot origin, was the person behind the launch of the “Surface” products in 2012, a line of “premium” devices that struggled to gain ground in the market. With the departure of Panay, the future of “Surface” remains uncertain.

Beyond “hardware”, Panay’s impact also extends to “software”, mainly with the release of Windows 11 in October 2021. This particular version, with the “taskbar” in the center, reminiscent of Apple’s design, signaled a major design departure from the previous version of Windows in 2015.

The development of Windows 11, which took place during the pandemic with developers collaborating through the “Teams” platform, was a distinct business challenge. As people turned to remote work due to Covid-19, PC sales soared and Microsoft predicted a 75% increase in Windows 10 usage time. Panay, who joined Microsoft in 2004 and was promoted to “Chief Product Officer” in 2018, has been instrumental in shaping the company’s direction.

His departure on September 18, announced by Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s vice president of “Windows and Devices”, left many wondering about the future of the products Panay was in charge of.

Shortly thereafter, “The Verge” reported that Panos Panay had struck a deal with Amazon. As Amazon officially announced on September 27, Panay will take on a new role as head of Amazon’s “Devices and Services” division later this year when Dave Limp steps down.

The impact of Panay’s departure from Microsoft

The implications of Panay’s departure are significant, especially considering Microsoft’s recent financial report, which highlighted the growth of “Cloud” revenue, in stark contrast to the decline of the “Devices” segment, which includes the products ” Surface”.

“Engadget” notes that:

“Almost every aspect of Microsoft is successful, except for the “Devices” division, whose revenue was down 22% compared to the previous year.”

The “Surface” series, which was once positioned to directly challenge Apple, appears to be at an impasse. Panay’s departure may mark more than just a change of position. It could mark the potential end of devices designed by Microsoft to compete with Apple, especially as Apple has ventured into producing its own “chips”, Apple Silicon.

Thus, questions arise regarding the future course of both Microsoft’s “Surface” series and Windows. Will Microsoft continue to compete with the likes of Apple, especially as Panay’s departure coincides with the decline of the “Devices” division? Only time will tell how these changes will shape the technology landscape and whether Microsoft can maintain its innovative power without Panos Panay’s guiding hand.

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