Sinofsky reportedly asked Ballmer to appoint him as successor

Steven Sinofsky is now out, but the reason behind his sudden resignation remains a mystery. Sinofsky was not well liked by many. Insider sources from Microsoft described Sinofsky as abrasive and off-putting, while aggressively keeping control over products. Business Insider says that Sinofsky asked Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to designate him as his successor, believing that he deserved to Microsoft’s next CEO. Sinofsky reportedly threatened to quit if his request was denied.

But since Ballmar has no plans of retiring yet until 2017, Sinofsky eventually got a no. In a final memo submitted to employees, Sinofsky confirms that he was not fired, but instead opted to step down. “After more than 23 years working on a wide range of Microsoft products, I have decided to leave the company to seek new opportunities that build on these experiences. My passion for building products is as strong as ever and I look forward focusing my energy and creativity along similar lines.”