Nokia's Stephen Elop to helm Microsoft's hardware divison

Big changes are ahead for Microsoft's management structure in the wake of the post-acquisition Nokia integration.

Stephen Elop's return to his former employer will see him take over the Devices and Studios division, currently run by Julie Larson-Green. The role will make Elop responsible for the Xbox and game development, as well Surface and the new mobile phone group.

Larson-Green will move to Applications and Services where she will be chief experience officer for the group, which oversees online services such as Bing, Outlook.com, MSN and SkyDrive. She will lead something called the My Life and Work team.

The news will no doubt soothe the troubled souls of those members of the greater gaming community who found themselves horrified that a woman — a woman! — could possibly be in charge of the Xbox.

Larson-Green will remain at Devices and Studios until the Nokia deal is finalised which is expected to happen this quarter.

The news was announced by Larson-Green via an internal memo that was leaked to GeekWire.

Team,

As you will read in the notes below from Qi and Satya, I've accepted a new challenge, leading the My Life & Work team in ASG and serving as the Chief Experience Officer (CXO). As hard as it is for me to leave Devices & Studios, I'm thrilled about this opportunity. In working with company leaders this year to establish our One Microsoft vision and plan, I thought about ways I could have impact on helping Microsoft prepare for the future and innovate. My discussions with Satya and Qi made clear this is a critical space to drive new thinking and an essential way to help the shape the company's direction. I'm looking forward to developing the Digital Life & Digital Work Experience Substrate that powers modern digital experiences regardless of device, as well as working across ASG to strengthen customer experiences.

I want to thank each and every one of you for welcoming me and supporting me as the leader of Devices & Studios over the past 7 months. I'm very proud of what we have accomplished during such a short timeframe. We launched Xbox One, Surface 2 & Pro 2, blockbuster games like Forza and Ryse, a brand new Xbox Music and Video service, PPI, and some amazing unannounced innovations just to name a few - incredibly impressive!

Our opportunity to grow as a world-class devices and experiences company is greater than ever, and I have every belief that as One Microsoft we're on the right path. The addition of Nokia Devices & Services into the DnS family will add tremendous scale, talent and opportunity for our future.

I'll remain in role leading the DnS organization in the interim until the Nokia deal closes and Stephen Elop makes his transition to Microsoft. We've been meeting regularly throughout and are making a lot of progress, ensuring our teams are ready for the Day 1 close and beyond.

You are all in great hands with Stephen and already we've shared a lot with him and his LT from Nokia regarding all of the fantastic people, teams and products in DnS. I also know many of you are looking forward to welcoming the Nokia team and working more closely with them.

As I look to the future, I'm reminded of a favorite Chinese proverb: "To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping."

I encourage you all to stay focused on the journey and opportunities ahead, and know that I'll be there in step with you as we launch the next chapter of Microsoft.

Thank you,

Julie