Tech Moves: More changes to Xbox; Remitly taps new accounting manager; A 30-year Microsoft vet is retiring
– There is more movement inside Microsoft unit to play as Lori Wright he announced that he was leaving “in the coming weeks.” Wright spent nine years at Microsoft, most recently leading global partnerships and business development and marketing for Xbox.
“I’m leaving with great gratitude for the adventure of a lifetime. As for what comes next, I’m hoping for many beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and discovering what’s in between,” Wright said on LinkedIn.
Wright’s departure follows last week’s news that Haiyan Zhangleaving Microsoft toNetflix. Zhang spent more than 13 years at Microsoft, holding positions across Microsoft Gaming, Microsoft Research and Xbox Studios, most recently as general manager and partner of Gaming AI.
Xbox is now led by Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming who recently took over from longtime leader Phil Spencer.
–Luke Tavischief accounting officer for a remittance company in Seattle Remithe will retire later this month.
He will continue to serve as vice president until June to support systematic reforms, according to an official filing.
Tai-Hong Fungcurrently VP, Controller, will replace Tavis on April 1. Fung joined Remitly in February after long stints at Starbucks and Microsoft.
Remitly founder and longtime CEO Matt Oppenheimer stepped down last month. The company is now led by veteran technology and finance executive Sebastian Gunningham. Oppenheimer remains chairman.
– Thomas Pfenningcorporate vice president e Microsoft who joined the company in 1995, announced his retirement in a LinkedIn post citing his early work on MSN and the Windows 2000 networking stack. Most recently he helped develop the Azure Edge suite. “Even the long hours – including those late night CRI sessions – are memories I will cherish, especially for the camaraderie and spirit of the people I worked with,” he wrote.
– Seattle is hiring tech startups Provn so called Taylor Brazelton as its new CTO and founder. Brazelton was previously a senior software engineer at Microsoft, where he worked with Provn CEO Nikesh Parekh. Provn was launched in November. “Taylor was and always is at the forefront and now I learn from her every day!” Parekh wrote on LinkedIn.
–Cynara Lillyformer senior director of advocacy and communications at The Ballmer Group, has taken on a new role at the Silicon Valley startup. Hippocratic AI as a communications officer. “This is the kind of role you dream of — sitting at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, public policy, and work that can truly improve and extend lives around the world,” Lilly wrote on LinkedIn.
– Vishnu Nathvice president and GM at Microsoftannounced his departure after nearly 15 years on the big Redmond tech teams working on Microsoft OneNote and Copilot Notebooks. “Microsoft has been more than just a place to work for me – it’s been a place where I’ve grown as a leader, taken risks, learned from failure, and celebrated some of the most rewarding moments of my career,” he said on LinkedIn. Nath said “more to come” on his next move.
– Alexandra Holien is the interim CEO of Ada Developers Academya Seattle-based nonprofit that trains underrepresented people in technology. Holien, a 10-year Ada veteran who previously served as interim CEO, replaces Tina-Marie Gulley, who is leaving this week after two years as CEO. “The Ada Developers Academy is boldly entering its next chapter, focused on building the best professionals the industry has ever seen,” wrote Laura Ruderman, CEO at Technology Alliance and Ada board member, on LinkedIn.
– Scott Ruffinformer CEO of e-commerce startup Pandion, has announced that he is leading a new company called Kup which describes itself as a platform for patient financial protection in the healthcare sector.
– Diana (Lustenader) Cappello joined the Seattle AI simulation game Iodine as director of solutions engineering. Cappello will work remotely and was previously a director at Eightfold.
–Jesse Rebello He is now the managing director of a Seattle-based electric utility company Edo. Rebello was a long-time executive at ENGIE Impact.
