Microsoft Developer Executive Abu-Hadba Leaving

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) vice president Walid Abu-Hadba is leaving the company and will be replaced by Steve Guggenheimer, who will head developer and platform evangelism, a position tasked with winning over software developers.

Abu-Hadba, a 21-year Microsoft veteran, will stay for several months to assist the transition after the release of the software maker’s flagship operating system, Windows 8, later this month, according to an e-mail obtained by Bloomberg News. The memo was written by S. Somasegar, who oversees the division that works with software developers.

The e-mail’s authenticity was confirmed by Microsoft spokesman Frank Shaw.

Guggenheimer in June decided to leave his position managing the company’s relationships with computer makers and take a sabbatical.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dina Bass in Seattle at dbass2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net