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Microsoft named longtime executive Pavan Davuluri to lead its combined Windows and Surface engineering organizations on March 26, 2024. The move reunited teams that had been split after Panos Panay left Microsoft, at a time when the company was preparing a new generation of AI-focused PCs. As of August 18, 2026, Microsoft identifies Davuluri as executive vice president of Windows + Devices and lists him among the executives reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella.
What Microsoft announced in March 2024
Microsoft placed Davuluri in charge of Windows client and cloud experiences alongside Surface hardware development, bringing the two engineering organizations under one leader again. The appointment was announced March 26, 2024; some reports followed on March 27 and 28. Windows Central reported on the consolidation, while The Indian Express covered Davuluri’s appointment and background.
That is more precise than calling him simply the “new Windows boss.” The remit connected Windows software and cloud experiences with Surface devices and engineering; it did not make him the head of Microsoft, Microsoft AI, Azure, Microsoft 365, or every Copilot product.
Why Microsoft brought Windows and Surface back together
Windows and Surface are different organizations with closely connected work. Windows teams build the operating system and related experiences; Surface teams develop Microsoft-branded hardware. Coordinating them can bring device design, Windows engineering, processors and silicon, and AI-capable hardware into closer alignment. The reorganization established that leadership arrangement; it did not, by itself, prove that products would improve or ship faster.
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- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
The timing matters. Microsoft was positioning the PC around AI features that depend on the interaction of software and hardware. In May 2024, it introduced Copilot+ PCs as a category centered on Windows experiences and capable neural processing units (NPUs). Microsoft specified an NPU capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) for Copilot+ PCs. That is a stated hardware threshold, not a guarantee that every AI feature performs identically on every device. Microsoft’s descriptions of performance and battery life were based on its own testing and pre-release configurations. Its Windows Copilot Runtime and Copilot+ PC announcement explains the software-and-hardware strategy.
How Panos Panay’s departure led to the change
Panos Panay, who had held a broad Windows-and-Surface leadership role, left Microsoft for Amazon in September 2023. Microsoft then split responsibilities: Davuluri led Surface silicon and devices work, while Mikhail Parakhin led Windows and web experiences. The March 2024 change recombined those areas under Davuluri, rather than simply continuing the interim structure.
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Parakhin’s organization and related AI teams moved into the Microsoft AI structure under Mustafa Suleyman after Microsoft announced Suleyman’s appointment on March 19, 2024. Subsequent reporting said Parakhin was exploring other roles. That description does not establish that he was fired. Microsoft’s announcement about Suleyman and the Microsoft AI organization provides context for the organizational shift.
Who Pavan Davuluri is
Davuluri was a longtime Microsoft engineering executive, with coverage at the time describing more than two decades at the company. His experience spanned Windows, Surface, PC engineering, and silicon, including work connected to Windows PCs using Arm processors. He studied at IIT Madras and the University of Maryland. Before taking on the combined remit, he oversaw Surface silicon and devices work.
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- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 13.8" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 20 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 20 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- THE PORTS YOU NEED — Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
His role is visible in Microsoft’s own public communications as well as in the 2024 appointment. Microsoft’s Windows Experience author page identifies him as EVP, Windows + Devices. A separate Windows Experience author page and his Windows Developer author page show his public work across Windows, developer tools, security, and AI-capable PCs. Those posts document the organization’s priorities; they do not mean Davuluri personally designed or launched every feature discussed.
What products were in view when he took the job
The leadership change came amid a series of Surface announcements. Microsoft had announced the Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for Business on March 21, 2024, five days before Davuluri’s appointment. Those business models used Intel Core Ultra processors and Windows 11 Pro, according to Microsoft’s business Surface announcement.
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- A PREMIUM PERFORMANCE LAPTOP — Ready for work, school, and creativity. Built for busy days, big projects, and nonstop multitasking. Run video calls, school and work apps, 20+ browser tabs, and AI tools at the same time without slowing down.
- WITH AI BUILT IN — With a dedicated AI chip (Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite), this Copilot+ PC[5] on Windows 11 helps you work smarter and faster. Prompt, create, and automate with ease - ready for even your most demanding tasks.
- A 15" TOUCHSCREEN YOU'LL ACTUALLY USE — Sharp colors, real detail, smooth 120Hz scrolling on the PixelSense touchscreen[1] with LCD display[2]. Tap, scroll, or pinch to zoom - whichever feels right for streaming, editing photos, or daily work.
- 19 HOURS OF BATTERY (LEAVE THE CHARGER) — Up to 19 hours of video playback[3] on a single charge. Work from a coffee shop, take it to class/work, or binge an entire season on a long flight — it'll keep up.
- Two USB-C / USB4[4] ports and a microSD card reader for fast charging, big file transfers, or hooking up to three 4K monitors when you want a full desktop. Wi-Fi 7 keeps you online and fast wherever you are.
On May 20, Microsoft announced the consumer Surface Laptop, 7th Edition, and Surface Pro, 11th Edition, including models built around Snapdragon X-series processors and positioned as Copilot+ PCs. The announcement connected Windows AI experiences with hardware that included an NPU. Details vary by model and market. See Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Surface Laptop announcement.
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Davuluri’s public work has covered Copilot+ PCs and local AI processing, Windows developer tools, security, and Windows at work. For example, his November 2024 post about enterprise Windows experiences addressed commercial computing and security. Microsoft’s Windows-at-work update is one example of the issues in the portfolio.
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- Brilliant Display – Stunning 13.8" PixelSense touchscreen[1], with brilliant LCD display[2], unleashes luminous whites, deeper blacks and colors so richly saturated bringing vivid life into every frame – perfect for work, school, streaming and creative tasks.
- Power that lasts all day – With 20 hours of battery life[3], the new Surface Laptop powers through your entire day, so you can create, work and stream from morning to night without reaching for a charger.
- Work at the speed of your ideas – Built with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Elite (12 Core) processors, Surface Laptop delivers fast, AI‑accelerated performance—making it the most powerful Surface laptop for everything from multitasking to demanding workloads.
- The ports you need – Charge on-the-go, transfer data fast, or create the ultimate desktop set up with two USB-C / USB4[4] ports.
- Built-in AI Companion – Work smarter, create freely, and communicate with confidence—Copilot[5] on Windows 11 is always there to help.
The appointment points to closer coordination across Windows and Microsoft’s device engineering, but it does not establish a specific change to Windows 11 support, upgrade eligibility, licensing, Surface release schedules, or customer support. Nor does it mean all Copilot development moved into Windows: Microsoft’s AI work spans separate organizations and products.
Windows + Devices leadership is also not identical to ownership of every Surface business function. Microsoft has identified additional leaders for the Surface business, including a general manager. Davuluri’s engineering remit should not be read as personal control of every sales, channel, or business decision.
Davuluri’s status in 2026
As of August 18, 2026, Microsoft’s public Windows author page identifies Davuluri as Executive Vice President, Windows + Devices. In a March 12, 2026 leadership announcement, Microsoft named him among the executives reporting directly to Nadella after Experiences + Devices chief Rajesh Jha announced his transition out of that role. The update concerns Davuluri’s later seniority and reporting line; it is not the date of his original appointment. Microsoft’s 2026 leadership announcement sets out the reporting change.
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What the change means for Windows users and Surface buyers
For users, the most reasonable takeaway is organizational rather than an immediate product promise: Microsoft put Windows and Surface engineering under a shared executive as it developed PCs where operating-system features, processors, and AI hardware were increasingly linked. Whether that produces a better experience depends on the products Microsoft ships, their support, and how well features work in practice—not on the leadership announcement alone.
For anyone considering a Copilot+ PC, the label alone is not a buying reason. Compare the specific model’s applications and processor compatibility, battery life, screen, ports, repair options, price, and which NPU-dependent features it supports. A Surface purchase does not automatically include every Microsoft 365 or Copilot subscription; availability, licensing, and configuration depend on the product and region.
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