Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices (E&D) Group is getting a makeover. On Tuesday, the company announced that Robbie Bach, head of the consumer-focused unit since its launch in 2005, will retire this fall following more than two decades of employment at Microsoft.
In addition, J Allard, currently senior vice president of design and development for E&D, will also leave to become a strategic consultant to CEO Steve Ballmer. The division heads — Don Mattrick at interactive entertainment and Andy Lees at mobile communications — will report directly to Ballmer.
‘A Point of Sadness’
E&D is one of five operating units at Microsoft and, in the last quarter, accounted for 11 percent of overall sales and three percent of the operating profit.
“Robbie’s an amazing business person and close personal friend,” Ballmer said, “which makes his departure a point of sadness for me.” Bach, aged 48, told news media that he wants to spend more time with his family and his nonprofit work, which includes the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He noted that his career has included participating in the launch of Office, Xbox and Xbox LIVE, the Halo franchise, Windows phones, and Zune.
Mattrick, the former president of Electronic Arts Worldwide Studios, has headed up interactive entertainment since the summer of 2007. David Treadwell, currently corporate vice president of live platform services, will take a new position as head of the core technology operation in interactive entertainment.
Lees has led mobile communications since early 2008, and oversaw the development of the new Kin phones optimized for social networking and of Windows Phone 7 Series.
While the Group’s Xbox video-game console has been successful, there have also been a number of misses — including the Zune portable media player and the lack of a strong entry into the tablet-computer market.
Windows 7, Project…