Panos Panay
Panay was central to the company’s hardware efforts in his role leading the Surface computer division and most recently heading the Windows division. Image Credit: AP

Microsoft Corp. said its chief product officer is leaving, a significant departure for the company’s hardware division.

Panos Panay is exiting effective immediately, Rajesh Jha, executive vice president of the experiences and devices group, announced in an email to employees on Monday.

Panay, who had been with Microsoft since 2004, was central to the company’s hardware efforts in his role leading the Surface computer division and most recently heading the Windows division. Yusuf Mehdi will inherit Pany’s role, Jha said.

“Thank you, Panos, for your impact on our products, culture, company, and industry over the past two decades,” CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement, adding that the company will “remain steadfast and convicted in our strategy”.