Calling all nerds
Now available: top jobs at Microsoft, only propeller-heads need apply.
In the wake of a number of high-profile departures from Microsoft's executive ranks, Bloomberg is reporting that CEO Steve Ballmer is now in search of engineering-focused individuals to build out his management team, having realized that to produce great software, you need leaders who know how software is built.
It's not super-clear that Microsoft does not already have such leaders in place, however… or did, at least. I don't know how much nuts and bolts experience Bob Muglia had, but at least he has a CompSci degree. But are you going to try to tell me Ray Ozzie had not earned his technical chops? J Allard? Jeff Raikes? Rob Short?
The problem does not seem to be that Microsoft does not have enough engineering chops in leadership roles, just that they are either being pushed out or disregarded to such extent that they decide to leave of their own volition.