News
Former Windows Phone Chief Andy Lees Promoted to New Role
- By Gladys Rama
- November 14, 2012
Andy Lees, previously the president of Microsoft's Windows Phone Division, officially has a new title: head of corporate development and strategy.
Lees' promotion was first reported by Bussinessweek on Tuesday and later confirmed by a Microsoft spokesperson, who added that Lees' new role took effect a month ago. He now reports to Peter Klein, Microsoft's chief financial officer.
Lees had served as head of the Windows Phone team for three years until last December, when Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer moved him to an unspecified role within the company. At the time, Ballmer said only that Lees' new position would be a "time-critical" role that will be "focused on driving maximum impact in 2012 with Windows Phone and Windows 8." He was replaced by Terry Myerson.
After his move from the Windows Phone Division, Lees -- who retained his "president" title -- became involved in cementing a $300 million investment deal between Microsoft and bookseller Barnes & Noble, in which the two companies pledged to jointly develop a Windows 8 app for B&N's Nook e-reader and collaborate on ways to integrate the tablet and the new OS. AllThingsD noted on Tuesday that the app seems to have been released recently.
The deal, announced in April, was also notable in that it brought the acrimonious, year-long intellectual property dispute between the two companies to an end. Microsoft had sued B&N in 2011 over alleged violations of Microsoft patents in the Linux-based Nook. Under the terms of the deal, Microsoft gained a 17.6 percent equity stake in a new B&N subsidiary focused on the bookseller's digital business.
Lees is a longtime Microsoft veteran, having joined the company in 1990. Besides heading the Windows Phone Division, he has also served as the corporate vice president of the Server and Tools Marketing and Solutions Group.