Christensen resigns Microsoft Mobile Devices post

Juha Christensen, who led the development of Microsoft’s mobile software division and spearheaded projects including the Smartphone handset operating system, will resign his position as corporate vice president of the company’s Mobile Devices Marketing Group at the end of this month.

“We are sad to see Juha Christensen leave Microsoft,” the software giant said in a statement. “He has brought great understanding of the market and strategic insight into what Microsoft can do to build a great business.”

Christensen declined public comment on the resignation.

During his four-year Microsoft tenure, Christensen oversaw the development of products including the Pocket PC, Pocket PC Phone Edition and Smartphone 2002. He also headed the company’s participation in a number of global wireless standards bodies. Before joining Microsoft in 1999, Christensen co-founded rival mobile OS firm Symbian.

Christensen’s Microsoft career yielded mixed results. Under his watch, the company forged critical new relationships with handset manufacturers and wireless carriers, partnering with Motorola to develop the MPx200 Smartphone and releasing the device to U.S. consumers via AT&T Wireless. However, Smartphone sales have been slow, and the mobile division’s balance sheet remains in the red.