Microsoft promotes Windows 7 supremo

The man who led the engineering teams on both Windows 7 and Office 2007 has been rewarded with promotion at Microsoft.

Steven Sinofsky will become the division president for Windows, taking overall control of the business and marketing aspects of Microsoft's OS.

He has until now been jointly running the Windows business with Bill Veghte, who is moving on to a new, unspecified role within the company.

Sinofsky has become the rising star at Microsoft, having now successfully overseen a major overhaul of Office and helped put Windows back on track after the disappointment of Vista.

"Steven Sinofsky has demonstrated the ability to lead large teams that deliver great products," claims Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

"The work he and the team have done in getting ready to ship Windows 7 really defines how to develop and ship world-class software. He is a perfect fit to lead the Windows group."

Interestingly, Sinofsky will now also assume control of Internet Explorer, another once market-leading Microsoft product that has seen its star wane in recent years.

Whether Sinofksy's next major project will be to revamp the browser and try and reverse the steep decline in its market share awaits to be seen.

ANI