Kinect author and head of Hololens division Alex Kipman leaves Microsoft

Microsoft's Alex Kipman, the creator of the company's HoloLens headset, is departing after a former employee made allegations that he engaged in inappropriate touching and comments towards female staff, according to Insider. His exit follows on the heels of accusations that he had made improper advances toward women and fostered an atmosphere where women's contributions were minimized. Kipman informed his team about his resignation just as Microsoft cloud and AI VP Scott Guthrie announced a reorganization that would split the HoloLens group. Jeff Teper is moving the software teams from Experiences + Devices to Windows + Devices, while Panos Panay is merging the hardware groups under him.

According to Guthrie, Kipman and he have been discussing the team's future for the previous several months, and they've both acknowledged that now is the appropriate moment for him to leave Microsoft in order to pursue other opportunities.

In a previous Insider piece about charges against Kipman, a source said he watched what was essentially VR porn in the office in front of his staff. A former executive also told that they had seen him act inappropriately towards women more than once. In a video recording, Kipman is seen allegedly continuing to massage the shoulders of a female employee after she has repeatedly shrugged her shoulders to get him to stop. Managers were reportedly instructed not to leave women alone in his presence. After 25 people gathered together to compile a report about Kipman's poor behavior.

Microsoft declined to comment on the allegations, but it has said that "every reported claim it received is investigated, and for every claim found verifiable, there is clear action taken."

Source: www.engadget.com