Microsoft Exec Shuffle Includes New Office Head

Microsoft on Friday promoted three internal vice presidents to lead its Office, Mobile, and Interactive Entertainment businesses.

Microsoft filled the executive leadership gap created by Stephen Elop's defection to Nokia last month by naming Kurt DelBene as president of the Microsoft Office Division, a group that includes Office, Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync. DelBene, an 18-year Microsoft veteran who was previously senior vice president of the Office business productivity group, will report directly to CEO Steve Ballmer.

Elop's duties as president of the Microsoft Business Division included oversight of Microsoft Dynamics, but Kirill Tatarinov will assume this responsibility as head of the Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) division, reporting to Ballmer.

Microsoft also named Andy Lees as president of the Mobile Communications Business and Don Mattrick as president of the Interactive Entertainment Business, which includes the Xbox and Zune. Both have been handling these roles since Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, resigned in May.

Lees and Mattrick are overseeing two of Microsoft's biggest product launches this year: The Kinect Xbox game controller system and Windows Phone 7, which will both be on store shelves this holiday season. While Kinect has been lauded as a shining example of Microsoft innovation, Windows Phone 7 will face stiff competition and may take some time to make its mark.

In the wake of the reshuffle, Microsoft will now turn its attention to what's shaping up to be just as important a holiday shopping season as last year was with the arrival of Windows 7 PCs.

"Today's promotions underscore the strength of Microsoft's collective leadership team and set us up well to execute against a powerful lineup of products this fall," Ballmer said in a statement.