Pavan Davuluri, an alumnus of IIT Madras, has been appointed as the new head of Microsoft Windows and Surface, succeeding longtime product chief Panos Panay. With over 23 years of experience at Microsoft, Davuluri has been instrumental in various projects, including collaborations with Qualcomm and AMD to develop processors for Surface devices. This move follows the internal reorganization at Microsoft, where the Windows and Surface teams were merged under Davuluri’s leadership, aligning with the company’s strategy for the AI era.
The restructuring was outlined in an internal memo from Rajesh Jha, Microsoft’s head of experiences and devices, emphasizing a holistic approach to building devices and experiences in the AI era. This decision positions Davuluri to lead a unified team focusing on Windows engineering and Surface development. His leadership comes at a pivotal moment as Microsoft aims to deliver world-class consumer AI products, including Copilot, under the Experiences + Devices (E+D) division.
Furthermore, Davuluri’s expertise extends to optimizing Windows for Arm-based devices, evident in Microsoft’s recent announcement of Surface AI PCs tailored for business use. This strategic direction aligns with the company’s goal to innovate in both hardware and software domains, leveraging AI technologies. Additionally, the appointment of Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Google DeepMind, as the CEO of Microsoft’s new AI team underscores the company’s commitment to advancing AI capabilities.
The reshuffle within Microsoft’s Engineering and Devices organization, spearheaded by Rajesh Jha, reinstates Davuluri’s oversight of hardware endeavors alongside his expanded role in Windows engineering. This realignment reflects Microsoft’s dedication to delivering seamless experiences across its ecosystem, driven by innovation and technological advancements. As Microsoft prepares to unveil next-generation AI features and Arm-based Surface hardware, Davuluri’s leadership is poised to drive transformative growth and enhance the company’s competitive edge in the evolving tech landscape.
