Former Windows 8 boss recruited Epstein to help negotiate his messy Microsoft exit

"Emails between former Windows boss Steven Sinofsky and Jeffrey Epstein, published by the Justice department on Friday, appear to show that Sinofsky constantly sought Epstein's advice as he negotiated his surprise exit from Microsoft in November 2012, forwarding emails to him in nearly real time as talks progressed. Sinofsky also appears to have paid Epstein for his help at the end of the process, and turned to him for assistance finding a new job with Apple or Samsung, according to the emails."

"One chain appears to show that Sinofsky forwarded a confidential email between Microsoft executives to Epstein in July 2013 that details the issues around the launch of Surface, warning that the Surface RT tablet was "about to catastrophically fail in a very public way." Sinofsky had originally sent the email to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on November 3rd, 2012, detailing how Surface RT sales were in a "very tough spot" and that the company might be on "the verge of an unrecoverable situation." Sinofsky left Microsoft just days after the correspondence with Ballmer."

"Microsoft had bet on the Surface RT tablet, its Arm-powered competitor to the iPad, and Windows 8's new touch-focused UI in a big way, and had expected 70 percent of Surface RT sales to be made online. Instead, Microsoft faced "significant problems" selling its tablet online, according to the email from Sinofsky, and had made far more units than it was able to sell. The email to Epstein also appears to show that Sinofsky pitched a plan to broaden Microsoft's retail footprint outside the US, based on data that suggested people wanted to play with a Surface in a store before committing to a purchase"

Emails reveal Steven Sinofsky repeatedly sought and paid Jeffrey Epstein for advice while negotiating his November 2012 exit from Microsoft and for help finding roles at Apple or Samsung. Correspondence shows Sinofsky forwarded confidential Microsoft emails to Epstein that warned Surface RT launch faced major problems and might be "about to catastrophically fail in a very public way." Sinofsky warned Steve Ballmer that Surface RT sales were in a "very tough spot" and possibly on "the verge of an unrecoverable situation." Microsoft overproduced Surface RT units, struggled with online sales, and considered expanding retail presence for hands-on demos.

Read at The Verge