Microsoft’s Former Surface Design Chief Joins Amazon

Microsoft’s erstwhile caput of creation for Windows and devices has started a caller domiciled astatine Amazon this week. Ralf Groene was responsible for nan creation of Microsoft’s Surface tablet, and worked intimately pinch erstwhile Windows and Surface main Panos Panay connected a connection of Surface devices complete nan past decade. The brace are now reunited astatine Amazon, moving connected devices again.

Groene — who near Microsoft successful April 2024, small than a twelvemonth aft Panay departed for Amazon — will lead creation for Amazon’s devices and services business. Groene adjacent Microsoft soon aft nan institution named Pavan Davuluri arsenic its caller Windows and Surface chief.

Groene, alongside Panay, was instrumental successful nan creation of nan Surface connection of products. The original Surface tablet started disconnected life successful Groene’s sketchbook, pinch a group of doodles astir kickstands that formed nan crushed of months of 3D-printed prototypes that were held together pinch string. Microsoft went connected to motorboat nan Surface RT tablet successful 2012, and nan Surface Pro has had a lasting effect connected hybrid laptop designs complete nan past 10 years.

Amazon’s hiring of Groene comes conscionable months aft Xbox cofounder J Allard joined Panay’s devices and services squad to activity connected “new ideas.” Allard departed Microsoft successful 2010, pursuing his activity connected nan company’s canceled Courier tablet.

Groene and Allard aren’t nan only notable caller erstwhile Microsoft hires for Amazon, though. Former Windows Cloud executive Aidan Marcuss too joined Amazon this week, starring nan Fire TV, ads, and AppStore teams.