Microsoft's Head of Industrial Design for Surface now also heading design team for Windows

HP Elite Dragonfly Review Display (Image credit: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central)

What you need to know

Ralf Groene is the corporate vice president of Design Windows and Devices at Microsoft.
Groene's new role started in March, but he only updated his LinkedIn profile recently.
Groene's new role lines up with Panos Panay becoming the leader of Windows and devices at Microsoft.

Microsoft's Ralf Groene recently shared that he is now the corporate vice president (CVP) of Design Windows and Devices at Microsoft. Groene has a long history at Microsoft, including heading the industrial design team for Microsoft devices from 2015. Groene's new role as CVP Design Windows and Devices includes designing Windows as well as the Microsoft on Android experience. In his new role, he continues to head the design of Microsoft hardware. Groene's LinkedIn profile states that he began his new role in March 2020, but he didn't update his profile until earlier this week.

Groene is the lead designer of Microsoft's Surface line and has been involved with several design choices that have been well received. His expanded role including the design of Windows could help end some of the frustrations people have expressed regarding the inconsistent design of Windows 10.

Ralf Groene Microsoft Job — Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Groene's new role began in March according to his profile, which lines up with Panos Panay becoming the leader of the Devices + Windows team. That change reportedly was part of a larger reorganization which took effect in Spring.

While it's unclear what role Groene has played in the design of Windows at this point, there does seem to be a shift regarding UI design and Windows at Microsoft. Panay being placed in charge of Windows, along with Groene's new role, could iron out inconsistencies in the operating system and improve the user interface. Panay teased a new Windows 10 UI earlier this year and Microsoft confirmed last month that some elements of Windows 10X will come to Windows 10. We'll have to wait and see to find out what Microsoft has in plan for the future of Windows.

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.