Microsoft media exec resigns due to company's 'direction'
Blair Westlake, a longtime corporate vice president at Microsoft, tells Variety the company is moving in a direction that doesn't fit his expertise.
Blair Westlake, Microsoft's corporate vice president for media and entertainment, has set sail from Redmond.
Westlake confirmed to Variety on Wednesday that he has resigned from his post, saying that "it has become clear to me that the organization is moving in a direction that does not fit either my expertise or my skill sets." Westlake didn't discuss the direction in which he believes the company is going.
Westlake spent nearly 10 years at Microsoft, handling the company's relations with the entertainment industry. According to his LinkedIn page, he was responsible for "business development, policies and all content licensing for Microsoft services and devices including Xbox Video, Xbox Music, Windows PC/Tablets, Surface and Windows Phones."
The executive's departure comes just a few months after outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer said that Microsoft is no longer just a big software company; it's a "devices and services company."
In a statement to The Seattle Times, Microsoft confirmed Westlake's departure. The company hasn't yet announced a replacement, and Westlake hasn't said where he'll be going next.