Panos Panay, the driving force behind Microsoft’s Surface line of products, has announced his surprise departure from the company just days before its next big Surface event. Panay helped bring Surface to life over 10 years ago, and his departure marks a significant change in leadership for Microsoft’s Windows and Surface businesses.
During his time at Microsoft, Panay played a pivotal role in the development and success of the Surface line. He was instrumental in transforming the Surface Pro tablet from a simple concept into a groundbreaking device that had a lasting impact on the laptop market. Under Panay’s leadership, Microsoft’s OEM partners and rivals were pushed to focus on quality and 2-in-1 devices.
With Panay’s resignation, Microsoft’s upcoming event in New York City will provide a glimpse into the future of Windows and Surface under new leadership. The event is expected to showcase three new Surface devices and highlight the integration of AI-powered features across Microsoft’s products and services.
Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s consumer marketing head, will now take on the responsibility of leading the Windows and Surface businesses and products externally. While Mehdi has been primarily involved in marketing efforts, he will now step into the role previously held by Panay as the face of Windows and Surface devices.
As Microsoft searches for a replacement for Panay’s unique role, the company is restructuring its leadership. Pavan Davuluri, who heads a team focused on silicon, systems, and devices, will now report directly to Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s vice president of experience and devices. Additionally, Microsoft is forming a new “Windows and Web Experiences” team to develop AI-powered web services for Windows.
Microsoft has been increasingly focused on incorporating AI into Windows and using it as a platform for its AI efforts. The company has been rumored to be developing its own Arm chips for servers and Surface PCs, as well as rival AI chips. Panay previously stated that AI would reinvent how users interact with Windows, and it will be interesting to see how Microsoft continues to innovate in the hardware space without his leadership.
The future of Microsoft’s hardware portfolio is uncertain, as the company has made changes to its lineup and discontinued some products. The impact of the pandemic on PC sales has also affected Surface and device revenue. Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, has hinted at a future beyond Windows, suggesting that the company may shift its focus to cloud services.
The upcoming Surface event will shed light on Microsoft’s strategy moving forward. The company is entering a new AI era for Windows and its services, and it remains to be seen how Surface will fit into this vision without one of its key inventors at the helm.