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    Categories: Tech

Former Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop to leave Microsoft

U.S. – The head of Microsoft’s (MSFT) hardware devices business and former Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop is to quit Microsoft. This position will be filled in by Windows executive, Terry Myerson. Stephen Elop’s departure is certainly a big surprise for the software giant. Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella announced an executive shuffle on Wednesday; however, nobody expected Stephen Elop’s departure. Apart from Elop, two more executives from Microsoft, namely Kirill Tatarinov and Eric Rudder are to leave the company after serving “designated transition period”.

Nokia President and CEO Stephen Elop debuts the Nokia Lumia 920, NokiaÕs flagship Windows Phone 8 smartphone, at a press event in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012. The Lumia 920 features a camera able to take in five times more light than competing smartphones for sharp pictures in low light without flash, and the phone comes with integrated wireless charging as well as an augmented reality mapping app, Nokia City Lens. (Photo by Diane Bondareff/Invision for Nokia)

Microsoft, Stephen Elop and executives leaving the organization:

Stephan Elop is not the only person associated with Nokia who is to leave Microsoft. Jo Harlow, his second-in-command executive, is also a part of this ‘departure’ list. Looking at this situation, it seems that this shuffle might be triggered because of the declining smartphone hardware business of Microsoft.

In the year 2013, Steve Ballmer purchased Nokia’s handset business for more than $9 billion; believing that Microsoft will become a strong player in the world of smartphones. However, it seems, Steve Ballmer’s vision did not quite turn into reality and may be this is the reason that several executives like Stephan Elop are asked to leave the company. In fact, sources mention that under Elop’s leadership, Windows phones lost huge market share.

The layoff can also be a part of Microsoft’s cost cutting strategy, which was announced last year. Considering the situation, Nokia’s employees were the first to be asked to leave Microsoft.

In July 2014, Stephen Elop had written an email mentioning the job layoffs in Nokia and challenges that the hardware manufacturing unit was facing off late. He mentioned in the email,

“It is particularly important to recognize that the role of phones within Microsoft is different than it was within Nokia. Our device strategy must reflect Microsoft’s strategy and must be accomplished within an appropriate financial envelope. Therefore, we plan to make some changes.”

Stephan Elop will be replaced by the Microsoft’s operating systems group lead, Terry Myerson.

Yet another employee of Microsoft, Mark Penn, a senior strategist is also leaving Microsoft; however it is said that his parting has nothing to do with the executive shuffle.

Adam Kreller: While Adam focuses much of his writing career on genres like entertainment, technology, and sports, his unique style of writing is seen in other areas as well. Adam grew up in Orange County, California as what many would consider privileged. However, he never wanted anything handed down, instead preferring to work hard to accomplish his own goals.
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