Former Microsoft lead Panos Panay would be the subsequent head of Amazon’s units group

Microsoft and Amazon have a historical past of teaming as much as make their units and apps extra user-friendly. Keep in mind after they joined forces to deliver Android apps to PCs with Home windows 11 or after they partnered to deliver Skype calling to Alexa units? Effectively, they may not be engaged on a venture collectively proper now, however they nonetheless have one thing in widespread.Panos Panay, a former Microsoft exec, is taking the reins at Amazon within the Gadgets & Providers (D&S) division (through Engadget). He’s moving into the sneakers of Dave Limp, the present head of D&S, who’s leaving Amazon to turn out to be the CEO of Jeff Bezos’ house firm, Blue Origin.

Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, mentioned that “as a powerful product builder and inventor who has deep expertise in each {hardware} and built-in providers, Panos can be an important addition to our D&S group shifting ahead.”

Panay spent the final 19+ years at Microsoft, the place he was most lately the EVP and Chief Product Officer, main the Home windows + Gadgets division. He oversaw the event of Floor units and of Home windows 11. Now, he’s going to be in control of the Alexa and Echo groups at Amazon. This transfer might imply Amazon’s D&S division is shifting its focus.

For the primary few months, Panay can be working carefully with Dave Limp, who was Amazon’s head of units and providers for over 13 years. Limp performed a pivotal function in growing and launching varied merchandise, together with Echo, Alexa, and Amazon’s line of Fireplace tablets.

Such transitions of senior employees from one tech firm to a different are widespread. For instance, in 2013, Hugo Barra, a former Google government, joined Xiaomi as Vice President. He performed a key function in Xiaomi’s worldwide growth earlier than finally leaving the corporate to affix Fb, which he left in 2021.