Microsoft promotes Windows chief Sinofsky to president

Head of Windows and Windows Live Engineering Steven Sinofsky is now one of a handful of Microsoft presidents.

On July 7, TechFlash broke the news that Sinofsky had been promoted and will join the four other Microsoft execs with "President" as their title. (The other four: Steven Elop, head of Microsoft's Business Division; Bob Muglia, head of Server and Tools; Qi Lu, head of Online Services; Robbie Bach, head of the Entertainment Division.)

The news comes a couple of weeks before Microsoft is expected to release Windows 7 to manufacturing. (I know a lot of sites are reporting Microsoft is planning to RTM Windows 7 on July 13, but I hear it might be slightly later than that, though not later than the end of July.)

Sinofsky and Jon DeVaan, the head of Microsoft's Core Operating Systems Division, have been leading the company's development of Windows 7. Sinofsky has been the more public face associated with Microsoft's successor to Windows Vista.

Bill Veghte, the senior vice president in charge of Windows sales and marketing, "will take a new leadership role in the company to be announced later this year," said TechFlash, citing a memo from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. TechFlash said Veghte is expected to take time off after gradually shifting his duties to Tami Reller, the chief financial officer for the Windows division. Both Reller and DeVaan will report to Sinofsky.

Veghte is currently listed as one of the kick-off keynote speakers for Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference next week. It's not clear if he will still do the honors there or if someone else will.