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Microsoft reportedly nearing restructuring


Microsoft may soon see a restructuring effort spearheaded by CEO Steve Ballmer, according to recent reports.

Big changes could be inbound for Microsoft soon, as CEO Steve Ballmer has been reportedly contemplating how he will restructure the company to be leaner and more efficient. According to a new report, the result of that plan will see several Microsoft executives transitioning to larger roles in the company.

According to a report by AllThingsD citing unnamed sources, Ballmer has been working on the plan in relative secrecy for months, only informing a "small group" of executives that report directly to him as well as some Microsoft board members. The entire senior leadership team will likely be informed of the changes by July 1, the outlet reports. The lack of involvement with the entire executive group is said to have worried many top managers who may see their roles diminished or possibly removed entirely.

One source reportedly told AllThingsD that Ballmer is making the moves for his legacy at the helm of the company and that "it's the first time in a long time that it feels like that there will be some major shifts, including some departures."

The report indicates Satya Nadella, president of Microsoft's Servers and Tools division; Tony Bates, president of the Skype division; and Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment division; could all see expanded roles in the company when the reorganization is complete. 

Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ballmer was considering paring down Microsoft's structure from eight business units to four, with Nadella and Mattrick running two of the units.  According to one report, Bates would have a "significant role" in the restructured company, while an operating systems business unit would be jointly run by Terry Myerson, current head of the Windows Phone division, and Julie Larson-Green, head of the Windows division.

Ballmer has been gearing Microsoft toward becoming a "devices and services" company in recent years, and the launch of the company's Surface line late last year bolstered those ambitions. Microsoft is widely expected to continue expanding the Surface line while also expanding its plethora of services, such as its communications portfolio including Skype and Yammer as well as its Azure cloud computing platform.

Source: AllThingsD | Image via Microsoft

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