Microsoft Server & Tools Business President To Depart Amid Shakeup
Word of the pending management change came in an e-mail Ballmer sent to employees Monday. Muglia, a 23-year Microsoft veteran, will leave the company this summer and Ballmer said he is conducting "an internal and external search" for a replacement.
A copy of Ballmer's e-mail was posted on Mary Jo Foley's blog on ZDnet.
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed that Muglia is leaving the company and confirmed the contents of Ballmer’s e-mail.
“The best time to think about change is when you are in a position of strength, and that’s where we are today with STB – leading the server business, successful with our developer tools, and poised to lead the rapidly emerging cloud future," Ballmer said in his note.
"Bob Muglia and I have been talking about the overall business and what is needed to accelerate our growth. In this context, I have decided that now is the time to put new leadership in place for STB. This is simply recognition that all businesses go through cycles and need new and different talent to manage through those cycles.
“In conjunction with this leadership change, Bob has decided to leave Microsoft this summer. He will continue to actively run STB as I conduct an internal and external search for the new leader. Bob will onboard the new leader and will also complete additional projects for me," Ballmer wrote.
Muglia has overseen a number of Microsoft operations, including the Developer, Office and Mobile Devices divisions, as well as parts of the Windows NT and Online Services businesses. He was named president of STB, one of four presidents reporting to Ballmer, in January 2009.
Microsoft's cloud computing efforts were merged into STB in December 2009.
Muglia is the latest Microsoft executive to leave the company in what has been something of a rush for the door. Last year the departed included chief software architect Ray Ozzie, Business Division president Stephen Elop, corporate vice president for Windows Platform Strategy Mike Nash, and Bill Veghte who was instrumental in developing Microsoft Office.