Stephen Elop is leaving as head of Microsoft's Office division, which includes the OCS and other real-time communications product portfolios, to become CEO of Nokia. Here's Nokia's announcement.
The move comes at a critical time for Microsoft's Office Communications Server portfolio. The company has been in beta with a major new release, code named Communications Server 14, which it is expected to officially release for GA this fall. The release marks a critical step for the product, as it is being positioned as a full replacement for the enterprise PBX. (If you haven't already read Brent Kelly's in-depth description of new CS14 features, you can find it here.
Elop's departure shouldn't affect the actual progress of the rollout of CS14, which is overseen by longtime head of Real-time Communications Gurdeep Singh Pall. As Brent's article makes clear, much is already known about CS14, and it's in wide beta deployment.
However, any plans Microsoft may have had for drawing attention to the CS14 release by involving Elop in the rollout are obviously out the window.
The move could also have implications for the direction of OCS/CS14 going forward, as well, depending on the vision that the new head of Office brings to the role of communications in Microsoft's larger business software strategy.
