Updated below with additional details.
Microsoft’s new Operating Systems Engineering Group — responsible for OS development across Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox — is filling out its executive team under new operating systems chief Terry Myerson, with key roles for some who worked under Myerson in his former role as the Windows Phone engineering leader.
AllThingsD reports overnight that the new operating systems development leader will be Henry Sanders, who worked previously on Windows Phone.
Joe Belfiore, another Windows Phone veteran with a long history at the company, will oversee OS work on phones, tablets and PCs. Marc Whitten will head up the Xbox efforts inside the OS group, and Chris Jones will lead services.
Not on that list are veteran Windows executives Grant George, Antoine Leblond and Jon DeVaan. InaFried of AllThingsD reports that it’s “unclear whether the trio will land roles within Windows, elsewhere at Microsoft, or end up leaving the company.”
The ultimate effect appears to be a dismantling of the Windows leadership team that had been assembled by former Windows chief Steven Sinofsky. Julie Larson-Green, who headed up Windows engineering prior to the restructuring, was named the leader of the Devices & Studios team under the new “One Microsoft” structure, but will end up reporting to Stephen Elop, the former Nokia CEO, following his return to Microsoft with the Redmond company’s $7.2 billion acquisition of Nokia’s Devices & Services business.
The announcements follow the previous Windows group’s completion of Windows 8.1, the update for Windows PCs and Windows RT devices, which addresses many of the initial complaints that followed Windows 8’s release last year.
The management shift also comes at a time of huge change for Microsoft more broadly, including a search for a new CEO following Steve Ballmer’s announcement that he’ll retire within 12 months.
Microsoft isn’t commenting on the AllThingsD report. The company is expected to announce the OS Engineering Group management changes as early as today.
Update, Monday afternoon: Microsoft has announced the changes internally now. In addition to the executives above, David Treadwell from the Xbox team will lead product management for the OS group, and Mike Fortin from Windows will head up test and quality. Dean Hachamovitch will continue to lead the IE team.
