News

Former Microsoft Server & Tools Chief Muglia Joins Juniper

• By Gladys Rama
• July 25, 2011

Bob Muglia, the former president of Microsoft's Server & Tools Business, has joined Juniper Networks as the vice president of that company's Software Solutions Division.

Muglia will play a key role at the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company, which produces software and hardware networking solutions. An announcement issued by Juniper on Monday explained that "by centralizing its software business under Muglia's leadership, Juniper is further sharpening its focus on systems and software as the two core engines of growth for the company."

Muglia worked for 23 years at Microsoft before he exited the company this past January, part of a recent string of high-profile executive departures. In 2009, he was named president of Microsoft Server & Tools Business and became responsible for a number of important Microsoft products, including System Center, Windows Server, Visual Studio and the Windows Azure cloud computing platform. In its earnings report for Q2 2011, the last quarter Muglia served at Microsoft, the Server & Tools Business brought in $4.4 billion.

Muglia was an especially prominent figure in the development of Windows Azure and, later, of the Windows Azure Appliance. In his memo to Microsoft employees announcing his departure from the company, Muglia wrote, "I am incredibly excited by the emergence of cloud computing, and the opportunity it represents to shape business and the way people live for years to come. I have deeply enjoyed my role in positioning Microsoft as a leader and innovator in cloud computing."

In a separate memo to Microsoft employees regarding Muglia's departure, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer suggested that a change in the leadership of the Server & Tools Business group was part of a wider strategy to "accelerate" its growth.

"In conjunction with this leadership change, Bob has decided to leave Microsoft this summer," Ballmer wrote. "He will continue to actively run STB as I conduct an internal and external search for the new leader."

In February, Microsoft appointed Satya Nadella to replace Muglia as the head of Server & Tools Business. Nadella had previously served as the vice president of research and development within Microsoft's Online Services Division. Amitabh Srivastava, the former head of Microsoft's Server and Cloud Division and once the presumptive choice for Muglia's replacement, subsequently resigned from Microsoft after Nadella's promotion. Srivastava ended up joining EMC Corp.

In his new role, Muglia will report to Juniper CEO Kevin Johnson, also a former Microsoft executive. Johnson left Microsoft in 2008 after serving as president of the Platforms & Services Division.

In a prepared statement, Muglia said, "I have long respected Juniper for its disruptive approach to solving the toughest networking problems and for its networking vision that is simple, open and programmable. I am thrilled to be joining Kevin and his team and look forward to contributing to the company's continued success and momentum in the marketplace."

Besides Johnson and Muglia, Juniper is also the current home of a third ex-Microsoft executive, Brad Brooks, the former corporate vice president for Windows consumer marketing and product management who left Redmond early this year.