Steven Sinofsky, President of Windows, Leaves Microsoft

Microsoft has just announced a leadership change following the launch of Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. Steven Sinofsky, president of Windows and Windows Live, considered widely to be the next CEO of Microsoft, is leaving the company effective immediately. Microsoft announced in a press release that his second in command Julie Larson-Green will now head the Windows hardware and software engineering efforts while Microsoft CFO Tami Reller will take over the business side of Windows. AllThingsD initially reported the ouster earlier today.

Apparently Sinofsky has been a figure not unlike Scott Forstall, former head of iOS at Apple who stepped down from his role last month. Sinofsky has been reported to be someone who is determined, irreverent, stops at noting to get what he wants, and a divisive figure.

Sinofsky's departure took place just a few weeks after Microsoft announced Windows 8, its next generation operating system that will power PCs and tablets alike as well as Windows Phone 8, the company's gamble to battle Android and iOS in the mobile space.

AllThingsD reported that his departure is primarily due to "the growing tension between Sinofsky and other top executives". Again, very similar to what has been reported with regards to Forstall. Years ago, Apple's former head of Mac OS X engineering Bertrandt Serlet said on stage, "Redmond, start your photocopiers." This is probably not what he meant.

[Image from Flickr/ross_tt]