Don Mattrick, who leads the Microsoft Xbox business as president of the company’s Interactive Entertainment division, is leaving the company and is close to taking a job at Zynga, according to a report this morning by AllThingsD.
Microsoft isn’t commenting, but an announcement could come after the market closes today. The news comes as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer puts the finishing touches on a large internal management reorg.
[Follow-up: Confirmed: Zynga names Microsoft Xbox chief Mattrick CEO]
Mattrick led the unveiling of the Xbox One in May and was at the center of the controversy over the company’s Internet check-in and used-game policies, ultimately announcing the reversal of those plans.
In terms of the product cycle, the timing is unusual. Even though the Xbox One has been announced, the new console won’t be released until later this fall, which means there’s considerable work left to do. Typically executives or companies interested in an orderly transition would wait until after the product release to make such a big change in leadership.
Developing, more to come.
