Microsoft Reorganizes the Entertianment & Devices Division

This morning Microsoft confirmed the reorganization of the Entertainment & Devices division of which both Zune and Windows Media Center are a part of.

“As a natural evolution of the Interactive Entertainment Business, our consumer products and experiences focused on games, movies, TV and music will move into IEB, led by SVP Don Mattrick. In addition, we’ve formed a new centralized E&D services infrastructure team, which will act as a combined resource across the division. Finally, Enrique Rodriguez has decided to move on from his leadership position running the TV, video and music business and is evaluating his next career opportunity. The TVM first party business, Zune and Windows Medica Center will move to IEB, and Mediaroom, the TV platform businesss, will become a standalone group within E&D, reporting directly to (E&D) President Robbie Bach.”

If you’ll recall early 2009 also brought changes to the Entertainment & Devices division. During that move the Zune team was split into two units, The Zune Software & Services and Zune hardware which now is part of the same division that deals directly with OEM partners creating devices based on Windows Mobile & Windows CE. What’s interesting here really is timing. With just weeks until the World Mobile Conference it seems they may be preparing for some key announcements regarding synergy across many of their entertainment platforms. Oh and getting rid of Enrique Rodriguez, which depending on your point of view may be a positive or negative thing.

Thanks to Mary Jo Foley of ZD.net for the insight. Check out her original analysis