GigaOM: "Since Steven Sinofsky and Microsoft shocked the PC world by divorcing last year, some details of Sinofsky’s severance have already surfaced. But now we know, thanks to Microsoft’s 10-K filing, just which companies has are off limits to Sinofsky until December 31, 2013, a year from his termination date.
By virtue of Sinofsky’s retirement agreement, he “cannot accept direct or indirect employment” with Amazon, Apple, EMC, Google, Facebook, Oracle or VMware. None of these names are exactly shockers. Microsoft is taking on Apple in tablets and cloud storage; Amazon in cloud generally, Google in apps and public cloud, VMware in hybrid enterprise-class cloud etc. But, it’s helpful to see which rivals are top of mind of Microsoft’s brain trust."
Maximum PC: Steven Sinofsky, the former head of Microsoft's Windows division who was ousted shortly after the launch of Windows 8, has washed up at Harvard Business School. His new title is "Executive in Residence" and his tasks include research, writing, teaching students product development, planning, collaboration, and more, Sinofsky announced in a pair of Twitter messages. He added the hashtag "sabbatical" to one of his tweets, indicating this is probably a temporary role.
New York Times: On a warm night in late October, Steven Sinofsky stood on a platform in New York’s Times Square, smiling as a huge crowd roared at the unveiling of a Microsoft retail store, where Windows 8 and the company’s new Surface tablet were about to go on sale.
Techradar: Why did Steve Ballmer announce Steven Sinofsky's departure from Microsoft the week after the Build conference and less than three weeks after the launch of Windows 8?
It certainly isn't about the success or otherwise of Windows 8. Steve Ballmer's comments about Surface have been widely misinterpreted; he called Microsoft's distribution plans modest, not initial sales and UK retailers have reported Windows 8 laptop sales 25% higher than anticipated.
