The head of Microsoft"s division that deals with its OEM partners is now leaving that position, but will stay on with the company. Bloomberg reports that, according to a statement from Microsoft, "As a result of long term planning, Steven Guggenheimer will move on from his current role as CVP of the OEM Division effective July 1, to coincide with the start of Microsoft’s fiscal year."
Guggenheimer was head of the division for over four years. Microsoft added, "He is taking on a new senior leadership role at the company, and further details will be provided when finalized." Guggenheimer will take a sabbatical from Microsoft before he returns to his new, unnamed, role at the company, according to Bloomberg. He will be replaced as head of the OEM division by Nick Parker, who is currently the vice-president of marketing for that part of Microsoft.
Guggenheimer"s departure comes just a few weeks after Microsoft announced that it will launch its first PC hardware product, the Surface tablet, in both Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT versions. Some have speculated that this move could cause some friction between Microsoft and its various OEM hardware partners such as HP, Dell, Lenovo and others. Microsoft said today that Guggenheimer"s departure from the OEM division is unrelated to the Surface tablet reveal.
Source: Bloomberg