Shake up at Microsoft’s Entertainment Div.

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Microsoft is changing the guard at the helm of its entertainment division which oversees such items as the XBOX, Windows Phone 7 and the Zune.
Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division is retiring and it looks like he will not be immediately replaced. Instead the division VPs will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Bach, a 22 year veteran of Microsoft, will leave this fall, just as Windows Phone 7 and Project Natal (Microsoft’s full body gaming controller) are about to launch. His departure follows reports of Microsoft’s Chief Experience Officer and CTO for its Entertainment and Devices division, J Allard leaving after Microsoft failed to bring its Courier tablet PC to market.
Bach said, “At Microsoft, I’ve been so fortunate to spend more than two decades of my life working with incredible people and doing amazing things like launching Office, Xbox and Xbox Live, the ‘Halo’ franchise, Windows Phones, Zune and more. I’m at the time in my life where I want to dedicate more time to my family and my nonprofit work, including my work with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.” Senior VP Don Mattrick will continue to lead the software giant’s Interactive Entertainment Business and senior VP Andy Lees will continue to head the Mobile Communications Business.
Sources: Microsoft, Engadget

Photo via AFP: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer

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