Microsoft Announces Major Executive Shakeup

In a major shakeup of his senior management team, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has ousted three key executives.

The most notable among those leaving is Stephen Elop, the former Nokia (NOK) CEO who came back to Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) after the companies merged last year.

Elop was formerly the head of Microsoft Office before he took the Nokia job in 2010. When he returned to Microsoft last year, he oversaw the company's devices group, which includes Nokia phones and the Surface tablet.

Elop's departure doesn't come as much of a shock. Microsoft's devices business has largely been struggling since he returned to the company. Though Surface has begun to catch on with consumers, Microsoft has been unable to gain much headway with its Windows Phones.

"Stephen and I have agreed that now is the right time for him to retire from Microsoft," Nadella said in an email to employees. "I regret the loss of leadership that this represents, and look forward to seeing where his next destination will be."

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