MS picks up the Nokia brand, Nokia CEO to head up the division containing the Xbox One

Current Nokia CEO and President Stephen Elop will become the lead of Microsoft services and devices division, which includes the Xbox business.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, announced Microsoft’s restructuring recently where he appointed Julie Larson-Green as the head of Xbox, but she will join Stephen Elop’s team and report to him once he joins the company after Nokia acquisition is complete.

“Stephen Elop will be coming back to Microsoft, and he will lead an expanded Devices team, which includes all of our current Devices and Studios work and most of the teams coming over from Nokia, reporting to me,” Ballmer wrote.

“Julie Larson-Green will continue to run the Devices and Studios team, and will be focused on the big launches this fall including Xbox One and our Surface enhancements. Julie will be joining Stephen’s team once the acquisition closes, and will work with him to shape the new organization.”

Elop has a good chance of becoming the next CEO of Microsoft after Ballmer retires. Microsoft expects the Nokia acquisition to finish in the first quarter of 2014 “following approval by Nokia’s shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other closing conditions.”


An unusual move in my opinion but one that adds more to the recent stories that MS may spin off the Xbox brand, this could then give them mire cash to pump in to their new business....

Microsoft N-Gage......