Former Nokia chief becomes head of Microsoft’s Devices and Studios business

Stephen Elop may not be Microsoft’s new CEO, but the former head of Nokia is not going unrewarded for bringing the phone manufacturer into the Microsoft fold. According to an internal memo, Elop will replace Julie Larson-Green as the head of Microsoft’s Devices and Studios business, putting him in charge of Xbox, Microsoft Surface, and Microsoft’s game development efforts, in addition to the new cellular handset business. 

The former boss of Nokia, Stephen Elop, is taking over the Microsoft division that includes the Xbox, Surface, entertainment, and games businesses. Microsoft picked Elop up as an executive when it acquired Nokia’s device and services division. Elop was a contender to take over the company, but Satya Nadella got the job of succeeding CEO Steve Ballmer instead. Now Elop will replace Julie Larson-Green, who will move over to a new assignment. In a leaked memo to TechCrunch, Larson-Green said that she will head the “My Life & Work” team in the applications and services group. Her title will be chief experience officer.