Microsoft Exodus: 10 Execs Who Have Left the Company (2007-2012)

The departure of Windows chief Steven Sinofsky just two weeks after the launch of Windows 8 accentuates Microsoft’s recent inability to hold on to talent. The real reasons for Sinofsky’s exit remain a mystery, but he follows an executive exodus from Redmond that has accelerated over the past five years, arguably the most challenging time span in the company’s history. Here’s a look at Microsoft’s dearly departed from 2007 – 2012 and where they all landed.

After being at Microsoft for 20 years, Bill Veghte left his role as a senior vice president of the Windows Business group in 2010 for a job leading Hewlett-Packard’s software business. Veghte’s departure coincided with Sinofsky taking over his group, so draw your own conclusions from that. Last May, Veghte was named HP’s chief operating officer.

Elop came to Microsoft in January of 2008 after stints at Adobe and Juniper Networks. He stayed in Redmond for almost three years as head of the Business Division, which includes the whole Microsoft Office ecosystem. Elop took advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime when he ditched Microsoft to become CEO of struggling Finnish phone-maker, Nokia, in Sept. 2010. He remains there now and last year spearheaded an exclusive partnership with Microsoft that stated Nokia smartphones would only run the Windows Phone OS.