Windows & Interoperability: 17 Microsoft Executives Determining the Company's Future

Microsoft is a company at a crossroads. On one hand, flagship products such as Windows and Office continue to bring in healthy revenues from both businesses and consumers. On the other, Microsoft faces the prospect of losing ground to Google, Apple and other companies in vital areas such as cloud computing and smartphones. While Microsoft has taken steps to meet these challenges—such as its "all in" cloud strategy, and the new Windows Phone 7—it will likely be some time before those newer initiatives' full impact can be felt. The following executives have a direct hand in whether Microsoft will succeed or fail in its efforts. Most of the list constitutes a "Who's Who" of the company's day-to-day executive leadership—such as CEO Steve Ballmer and his various division presidents. Others, such as departing Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie, have more nebulous but nonetheless decisive parts to play in Microsoft's broader strategy. The vice presidents mentioned here find themselves in a more tactical position with regard to some of the company's most do-or-die initiatives, such as Windows Phone 7 or online business solutions.??í