Microsoft has once again merged its Windows and Surface teams internally, with Pavan Davuluri, an alumnus of IIT Madras, entrusted with leading development efforts on both fronts.
According to reports from Windows Central, a reputable source for Microsoft-related news, this decision comes after a brief period of separation, during which Windows temporarily fell under the purview of Microsoft’s new AI organization.
The reunion of the Windows and Surface teams signifies a return to a familiar organizational structure within Microsoft’s Engineering and Devices division, under the leadership of Rajesh Jha.
Pavan Davuluri, who previously oversaw Microsoft’s hardware initiatives, will now assume leadership of Windows engineering as well.
This reshuffle follows the departure of former Windows and Surface chief, Panos Panay, in September of last year. Davuluri and Mikhail Parakhin have effectively taken on the responsibilities that were previously held by Panay.
Parakhin took charge of Windows, alongside his existing responsibilities as CEO of Web and Advertising at Microsoft, overseeing products such as Bing, Edge, and Copilot.
However, recent developments within Microsoft, including the appointment of DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman as CEO of a new AI division, prompted a re-evaluation of team structures.
With Parakhin’s team absorbed into the new AI division, he has announced his intention to explore other roles, likely outside the company.
As a result, Windows is now realigned under Rajesh Jha’s leadership, ensuring that development is overseen by the same individual who guides Surface development.
Over the past year, Pavan Davuluri has been instrumental in driving Microsoft’s efforts to optimize Windows for Arm-based devices.
On March 22, Davuluri posted on X “Today, we announced our first ever #Surface AI PCs built exclusively for business: Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business! I’m incredibly proud of the team for the work they did to bring these devices and experiences to life for our customers #Copilot.”
Anticipation is building for May 20, when Microsoft is expected to unveil new next-generation AI features and Arm-based Surface hardware, offering further insights into the company’s vision for Windows and AI integration.