Last October, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wrote in his annual letter to shareholders that the software giant would be transitioning into a “devices and services” company. Microsoft already has made good on this promise in many ways, such as the introduction of its Surface tablets, the first of the devices to which Ballmer ostensibly referred.
But according to new reports, the CEO has even bigger changes planned, namely the first company-wide restructuring of his tenure. The new hierarchy, which could be revealed as soon as July 1, could leave many key executives looking for new jobs.
The timing adds a new level of intrigue to what was already shaping up to be a busy few weeks for Microsoft. On Wednesday, the company will unveil Windows 8.1 at its Build conference in San Francisco, and on July 7, its Worldwide Partners Conference will kick off in Houston.
Citing “numerous sources,” All Things D reported Sunday that many Microsoft executives are bracing for departures. Ballmer’s planning team has allegedly included only a small group of his direct reports and a handful of board members, and the exclusivity has evidently stoked fears among those on the outside looking in.