Panos Panay launched the Surface Laptop 5 at the 2022 Surface event, so naturally, we had been anticipating Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer to current the next-generation of laptops and tablets on Thursday. “What’s on Thursday?” you ask. The 2023 Surface event. But this time, Panay is not going to be in attendance.
On Sept. 18, Panos Panay shook up the tech panorama after tweeting about his departure from Microsoft. “I’m forever grateful for my time at Microsoft and the amazing people I had the honor to make products with,” Panay mentioned.
As The Verge identified, Panay’s exit is sudden and sudden. After all, simply final month, he was tweeting about how “pumped” he’s to be in NYC for the Sept. 21 Surface event. According to Windows Central, the Redmond-based tech large is reportedly unleashing a brand new Surface Laptop Go 3, Surface Laptop Studio 2, and Surface Go 4.
A Microsoft Surface Pro 10 can also be in the works, introducing a brand new variant (an 11-inch pill) alongside the extra acquainted 13-inch mannequin. However, there seems to be a scarcity of consensus from the rumor mill about whether or not it’ll make an look at the Surface Event. (Windows Central suspects it’ll get unveiled at Windows vNext – not on Thursday).
Where is Panos headed subsequent?
According to Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the situation,” Amazon is hiring Panos to exchange Dave Limp, the big-box retailer’s former {hardware} chief. He can be at the helm of the Alexa assistant and Echo sensible speaker division. Stepping into Panos’ place can be Microsoft’s Consumer Chief Marketing Officer Yusuf Mehdi.
Panos hopped aboard the Microsoft practice in 2004 as a program supervisor for PC software program. In 2021, Panos joined the firm’s senior management workforce as the govt vice chairman, a job that enables Panos to work carefully with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Throughout his tenure, Panay led the firm via many key services, together with the Surface line and Windows 11.
According to CNBC, though the Surface laptop computer line impressed different PC OEMs to comply with Microsoft’s playbook (e.g., the 2-in-1 convertible kind issue), the gadgets failed to realize various share factors after 10 years on the market. Bloomberg additionally talked about that Microsoft has “scaled back” Surface operation in current years, doubtless attributable to slow-selling merchandise.
Microsoft Surface household
Credit: Microsoft
What does Panos’ departure imply for the upcoming Surface event? The livestream, poised to broadcast at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 21, will proceed as scheduled. Expect to see a gaggle of Surface gadgets in addition to some AI updates to Bing, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft 365.
