Panos Panay, the creator and leader of the team responsible for the Surface device lineup, announced his departure from Microsoft on Twitter after nearly 20 years of work. This announcement came just a few days before the manufacturer’s autumn conference, where new devices from the Surface family were to be presented.
Last month, Panay expressed enthusiasm about the presentation scheduled for September 21, and now it turns out that he will not be participating in it. In a short statement on Twitter, Panay explained that he wants to write a new chapter in his professional life and thanked everyone for the years spent at Microsoft and the people with whom he created products.
Panay joined Microsoft in 2004 and was able to popularize the Surface Pro device line, which earned him a promotion to Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer in 2018. As Executive Vice President of Microsoft responsible for the Surface sector and Windows 11, he played a key role in its development.
His departure leaves a gap in Microsoft. Panay was known for his dedication and passion when presenting new devices and during Microsoft conferences. He will be succeeded by Yusuf Mehdi, the former Corporate Vice President of the Modern Life, Search, and Devices division.
The departure of Panos Panay is a significant event for Microsoft. His dedication and contribution to the company’s product development will be difficult to replace.
