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Don Mattrick Leaves Microsoft To Become CEO At Zynga

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the all-aboard-the-sinking-ship dept.

krkhan writes "It has been confirmed by Zynga that the head of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, Don Mattrick, is taking over as the new CEO. Mattrick joined Microsoft in 2007 and has led the business during much of the lifespan of Xbox 360, as well as the launch of Kinect and pre-launch of Xbox One. Zynga shares jumped 12% following the news."

12 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. All the xbox employees now report to Ballmer by Seumas · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Ballmer issued a statement which included a comment that all Don's former employees now report to Ballmer through the holiday for the XBOX ONE.. Hm...

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Jul13/07-01steveb-mail.aspx

    1. Re:All the xbox employees now report to Ballmer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

      No hmm about it. It's a very good farewell message - no daggers.
      All it means is that they didn't have anyone to back-fill Don (which would indicate a resignation rather than being fired).

    2. Re:All the xbox employees now report to Ballmer by Seumas · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The question isn't about daggers, but about the efficacy of Ballmer picking up from here through to and after the launch. With Don's departure so swift, it strikes me a little like losing your head coach just before going to your championship game. It brings uncertainty and interrupts a certain flow and expectation at a crucial moment. I'm actually a bit shocked they wouldn't force him to stay til the end of the year (if for no other reason than to readily finger him for any failures in final numbers).

  2. XBone One by girlintraining · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think this guy saw the writing on the wall regarding the XBone One, and he got the hell out of dodge before the shit storm made landfall. Better to go to a place where you're wanted while you can still leave than be sucking on a "golden parachute" and have no job prospects.

    --
    #fuckbeta #iamslashdot #dicemustdie
    1. Re:XBone One by WankersRevenge · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yes, there will be a shitstorm. Microsoft really screwed up this launch and I think that's why he's leaving. After the DRM reversal, his number was up.

      But I don't think for a moment that Microsoft is out of the console race. They're in it for the long game and as far as launches go, I still think the PS3 holds the title of the worst console launch.

      I imagine in 2015 after the inevitable price drop, no one will even remember all the Microsoft cockups, but it's going to be a lot of painful months before Microsoft gets there.

  3. Re:Being run by an ex-Microsoft manager... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... worked so well for Nokia ... Not!

    On the plus side, this is Zynga we are talking about. In a pleasant inversion of AvP, "Whoever Loses, We Win."

  4. Holy crap... by hine_uk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...when a sinking ship like Zynga looks good to a rat like Mattrick you know Microsoft are in trouble.

    1. Re:Holy crap... by am+2k · · Score: 3

      I'm not so sure. He used to be a (higher-up) middle manager, now he's the CEO. If an already crumbling ship sinks, nobody will blame him, and the next job he'll be given will be a CEO position.

      Remember, CEOs aren't rated by the performance of their company under their leadership, but only by the check they raked in every month.

    2. Re:Holy crap... by drawfour · · Score: 4, Informative

      He was the President of the IEB division. That's not a middle manager of any kind - he reported straight to Ballmer.

  5. Re:Time to really dump Zynga shares by ArcadeMan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah that guy is very unlucky!

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  6. Re:Time to really dump Zynga shares by Colonel+Korn · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This guy went from EA to MS to now Zynga. Notice a trend?

    EA: Hemorrhaging money, dominant market share, in decline
    MS: Record profits, dominant market share, in decline
    Zynga: Hemorrhaging money, large share of market with no customer loyalty, in decline

    I'm going to go with "in decline"

    --
    "I zero-index my hamsters" - Willtor (147206)
  7. Re:From pits of sewage by uniquename72 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. Neither Microsoft or Zynga has any near-term strategy or long-term future.

    Yes, MS will continue to stay afloat a lot longer thanks to legacy contracts and ingrained habits. But in 15 years, they'll be lucky to be another Yahoo (who will be long dead, along with Zynga).