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Former Microsoft exec Sinofsky joins Box as adviser

The former Windows chief is joining cloud storage service Box as an adviser, and will weigh in on future product strategy.

Josh Lowensohn Former Senior Writer
Josh Lowensohn joined CNET in 2006 and now covers Apple. Before that, Josh wrote about everything from new Web start-ups, to remote-controlled robots that watch your house. Prior to joining CNET, Josh covered breaking video game news, as well as reviewing game software. His current console favorite is the Xbox 360.
Josh Lowensohn
2 min read
Former Microsoft exec Steven Sinofsky
Former Microsoft exec Steven Sinofsky Microsoft

It's a busy week for former Microsoft Windows chief Steven Sinofsky when it comes to startups.

Earlier this week he joined the boardof a vehicle analytics and logistics company Local Motion, and now he's signed on as an adviser with Box, the cloud storage service.

Box announced the news on Thursday, saying Sinofsky -- who spent more than 20 years at Microsoft, and at one point ran the company's SkyDrive service -- would help with future product plans.

"He's seen firsthand where the market has been, and more importantly, he understands where the industry is going," said Box CEO and co-founder Aaron Levie.

Earlier this month Sinofsky joined venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz as a board partner, his first foray back into the business world after leaving Microsoft in November. His name has since come up on several short lists of possible replacements to run Microsoft, following current CEO Steve Ballmer's announcement that he would be leaving his post in the next 12 months. That's despite growing tensions between Sinofsky and other Microsoft executives which ultimately led to his exit, as CNET reported in detail last year.

Box recently announced that it has 20 million users, and serves 180,000 businesses. It also recently doubled the amount of storage it gives to users for free in a bid to win over more users to its paid subscription plans.