Microsoft to lose execs Bates and Reller, report says
Headed for the exit, according to Recode, are Tony Bates, who oversees business development, and Tami Reller, head of marketing for the software maker.
- 30 years experience at tech and consumer publications, print and online. Five years in the US Army as a translator (German and Polish).
The executive lineup at Microsoft could see more high-level changes this week.
Vice presidents Tony Bates and Tami Reller will be leaving the company, with an announcement of the departures coming in the next few days, according to a story posted Sunday by Kara Swisher at Recode, citing "numerous sources close to the situation."
No word was given on where Bates or Reller might be headed.
Bates has been serving as Microsoft's chief of business development and evangelism, while Reller has been the software maker's head of marketing. The Recode report said that Bates' duties will be handled for the time being by Eric Rudder, who oversees Microsoft's advanced strategy, and that Reller's replacement will be marketing executive Chris Capossela. Bates had come to Microsoft in its acquisition of Skype, where he had served as CEO.
The report of the purported departures comes about a month after Microsoft named Satya Nadella as its new CEO, taking over for longtime company leader Steve Ballmer.
And just a few days ago, Microsoft confirmed that Julie Larson-Green would be stepping aside from her post as leader of hardware development to take the top spot at the My Life & Work team inside the Applications and Services Group.
Bates and Larson-Green were among the internal candidates, along with Nadella, whom Microsoft had considered for the CEO post, according to Mary Jo Foley at CNET sister site ZDNet.
Microsoft declined to comment on the Recode report.
Update 4:55 p.m. PT: Added Microsoft's response.