The technology world was shaken last week when former Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay stepped down from his role. During his time at Microsoft, Panay was responsible for launching Windows 11 and the Microsoft Surface product line. So it came as a shock that someone who had become synonymous with the Surface brand was leaving Microsoft just days before the expected event. Meanwhile, rumors began to circulate that another Seattle technology company, Amazon, had lured him.
Panos Panay actually left Microsoft for Amazon
The rumors were correct, as a recent press release from Amazon revealed that Panay will join the company as head of the Devices and Services department next month. This arm of Amazon is responsible for several products, including devices like the Echo, Fire Tablet and Kindle, and services like Luna. While the plethora of devices under Amazon’s purview can be intimidating, CEO Andy Jassy believes Panay is up to the job, calling him “a strong product builder and inventor who has deep experience in both hardware and integrated services.” ”.
Panay will replace the previous Devices and Services leader, Dave Limp. However, he will not leave immediately. This is because Microsoft revealed that he would remain on board for a few months to help with Panay’s transition. When he leaves for good next year, he will take on the role of CEO of Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin.
Rumors suggested that Panay’s role would center on Alexa and Echo, as did Limp. Panay has a challenging task ahead, as it has been reported that Alexa’s failure cost the company more than $10 billion. Therefore, it will be up to him to put everything in place.
At Microsoft, taking over Panay’s previous role is Yusuf Mehdi, who previously held the role of head of consumer marketing at the company. Under Mehdi’s leadership, Microsoft has already launched its AI assistant Copilot, which works within Microsoft 365 apps to provide real-time help to users. It is doubtful, based on his short time in office, that he was heavily involved in the creation of this product.
