Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is to unveil a major restructuring of the software giant on Thursday.
The aim, according to sources, is to achieve "functional coherence" and to better align people with corporate goals. That will mean cutting overlapping functions, on the one hand, but promoting such activities as cloud computing on the other.
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According to the various leaks that have come out of Microsoft's HQ in Redmond, a new cloud computing and "business-focused products" unit will be headed-up by the current head of Servers and Tools, Satya Nadella.
At the same time, Qi Lu, who currently runs Microsoft's Online Services division, will also be put in charge of Microsoft Office; while user interfaces "guru" Julie Larson-Green, who was promoted to co-head Windows operating systems efforts last autumn, will also be put in charge of all devices from the Surface tablet to the Xbox game player.
Larson-Green's role will also encompass music and TV services, while Windows Phone head Terry Myerson, meanwhile, is expected to take over Windows engineering and platforms.
Part of the aim of the reorganisation is to re-align the company around services rather than products - in both consumer markets and business - as explained by Ballmer in his letter to shareholders last year.
Chief financial officer Amy Hood will remain in her role, but will need to re-structure the way that the company reports its results. Chief operating officer Kevin Turner is expected to retain his role.
Other expected role-changes will include current Skype president Tony Bates, who will also get an input into broader corporate business development, strategy, and mergers and acquisition activity.
However, the fates of Microsoft Office president Kurt DelBene and Microsoft Business Solutions president Kirill Tatarinov - a long-time industry veteran - remain unknown.
