Panos Panay Departs Microsoft After 19 Years of Service
Panos Panay, the Windows product director who also led the company’s Surface devices, announced Monday that he is leaving Microsoft after “19 incredible years.” Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s vice president of modern life, search and devices, will succeed him as head of the Windows and Surface businesses.
Panay joined Microsoft in 2004 as a group program manager and in 2018 became the company’s product director, where he led the development of Windows 11.
In 2021, Panay was promoted to executive vice president as part of the senior management team under Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
“I have decided to turn the page and write the next chapter. I am forever grateful for my time at Microsoft and the incredible people I had the honor of building products with,” Panay said in X’s post.
“Thank you, Panos, for your impact on our products, our culture, our company and our industry over the past two decades,” Nadella said in a statement.
“I’m grateful for your leadership, your support, and everything you’ve done for Microsoft and our customers and partners,” he added.
Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s vice president of experience and devices, told employees in an internal email that Panay has decided to leave the company.
Recently as head of Windows, the team led by Panay brought “hundreds of millions of incredible services and experiences with Windows 11 on innovative devices, including products from our OEM partners.”
“Going forward, we are doubling down on our strategy. These changes will take effect immediately with Panos in transition,” Jha wrote.
“He will be missed and I am personally very grateful for his many contributions over the years,” he added.
