Panos Panay discusses his new role in an email to Microsoft employees

Surface Pro 7 vs Surface Pro X
Surface Pro 7 vs Surface Pro X (Image credit: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Panos Panay discusses his new role in an internal email to Microsoft employees.
  • Panay says he's excited to lead the Windows Client for Microsoft.
  • Panay believes that designing hardware and software together will help "long term Windows bets" like dual-screen devices and connectivity.

Foley only shared an excerpt of the internal email, but it summarizes Panay's feelings:

Personally I'm very excited to lead the Windows Client for Microsoft, which will help us streamline our decision-making processes, be clear on our priorities, and deliver the best end user experiences from silicon through operating systems across all Microsoft apps and service connected devices (OEMs and Surface). We believe this will make the Windows Client experience better for the entire PC ecosystem. Designing hardware and software together will enable us to do a better job on our long term Windows bets (dual screen, silicon diversity, connectivity, app platform, etc.) and having a single point of Windows Client Experience leadership driving consistent priorities and resourcing across all of Windows client will help all of us accelerate innovation and improve execution. This is such an amazing time and opportunity to bring more energy to Windows and our customers using Windows. It won't be easy, but extending our growth will be key for our company strategy.

Panay's emphasis on Microsoft's "long term Windows bets" is interesting. Panay believes that designing hardware and software together will help Microsoft deliver a better experience for dual-screen devices, using different types of silicon, and other key areas. Microsoft continues to expand its hardware line, including the Surface Pro X that runs on a Snapdragon processor and the HoloLens 2. As Microsoft ventures into new architectures, making sure that Windows works across chipsets becomes increasingly important.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 930, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.