14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has confirmed that Robbie Bach, the head of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, and J. Allard, the chief technology officer of the same division, are set to vacate their current positions. Bach, the person behind the success of Microsoft Office, Xbox and Xbox Live, the Windows phones and Zune, will leave Microsoft to spend more time with his family and with his non-profit activities. He will remain in his current position until this fall, preparing the company for his absence with Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer, Steve Ballmer.
J. Allard will leave his executive offices, technology and experience, to become Ballmer's adviser so that all of Microsoft will benefit from his insights. Allard is one of the key figures in the rise to success of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices branch. His decisions shaped the Zune, Microsoft's portable media player, and, more importantly, the Xbox and the Xbox 360. He invented Xbox Live and overwatched the design of the Xbox Software Development Kit, one of the best tool sets of this kind on the market.
In his goodbye note, he denied previous speculation that he would be joining Apple or Google and he affirmed that he would be expanding his passion for design, the arts and philanthropy. He continued to assure that he as well would not be leaving until this Fall to help with the transition process. His final piece of advice to the company was to hire interesting, creative and visionary people. “Decide. Change. Reinvent,” were the words that ended the final letter of the man that shaped the Microsoft leading position in the interactive entertainment market.
The two are leaving with a bang, as this year is looking great for Microsoft, for Windows Phone 7 and Project Natal will be launched soon. Also, at this time, the Xbox 360 is the leading platform for Red Dead Redemption, itself the biggest video-game launch of 2010 so far.