• TechFlash, Tuesday, May 25, 2010 1:01 PM

Robbie Bach and J Allard -- who TechFlash calls the "founding fathers of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division" -- are leaving the company as part of a broader restructuring. In turn, CEO Steve Ballmer is getting more direct oversight over consumer businesses, including the company fraught mobile unit.

The changes are expected to reshape the division leading the company's battles against Google, Apple, Sony, Nintendo along with other rivals in the harried consumer technology market. Bach has served as president of the division since its inception five years ago, and isn't expected to be replaced. "That will effectively dissolve the division's current structure and leave the existing Xbox and Windows Mobile leaders to report to Ballmer starting in July," TechFlash reports. Allard, who described as the creative force behind the Xbox and Zune, is expected to remain an adviser to the company. Still, the shift will potentially hurt Microsoft's efforts to compete with Apple and others in product design and development.

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