14 DAY TRIAL // One of the key figures behind the Windows 7 development process has announced that he is leaving Microsoft. Bill Veghte, senior vice president for the Windows Business, helmed the Windows 7 project along with Steven Sinofsky, which ahead of the operating system’s general availability deadline on October 22nd, 2009, also occupied a Senior Vice President position, overseeing the Windows and Windows Live engineering group. After Windows 7 was launched, Sinofsky was upgraded to the role of President, Windows and Windows Live Division, with Microsoft indicating that Veghte would take on an unspecified role within the company. Three months later, Veghte is out altogether, his last day with the company will be January 31st.
Still, the soon-to-be-former Sr. VP for the Windows Business revealed that he is leaving Microsoft on his own to pursue other opportunities. Veghte made it clear that there’s not another job waiting for him when he bids the software giant farewell, but that he is opened to new possibilities. Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer sent an email to staff informing that the almost 20 year Microsoft veteran is moving on.
“Bill joined us in 1990 in the earliest days of building the Windows Office franchise as an associate product manager. Since that time he has worked in a wide variety of roles from leading the development of Windows 98 to spearheading the development and marketing of the Windows Server line to leading Microsoft North America. Most recently, Bill served as the Senior Vice President of our global Windows business where he was instrumental in the delivery and launch of Windows 7, helping us reenergize the Windows franchise,” Ballmer stated.
Veghte joined Microsoft in 1990 and despite his latest responsibilities being intimately connected with Windows 7, he worked on a range of products. According to his official bio, he also poured his efforts into Office and Windows Server, as well as Microsoft’s Linux compete work.
“We all know Bill not only as a great leader who has consistently delivered strong results across sales, marketing and engineering teams, but also as a team player full of passion and commitment to the work at hand,” Ballmer added. “Bill has indicated a desire to run a business in a more end-to-end fashion and continue to explore new areas in the broad technology, communications and services sectors. I want to thank Bill for his important contributions to Microsoft over nearly two decades and wish him the very best in his new endeavors.”