Top News

In a surprising turn of events, 59-year-old Freddy Kristiansen, a former principal product manager at Microsoft, continues to go to work daily at the company’s Denmark office, despite having been laid off in May. Speaking to Business Insider, Kristiansen, who spent 23 years at the tech giant, revealed that he remains committed to helping his former team and the users of Microsoft products.

“I'm still keen to be helpful,” he said. “I'm also in touch with my former team. If they need my help, I'll answer questions, share guidance, or whatever else helps. Next month, I'll be hosting a session for current staff — a kind of motivational talk about my career at Microsoft and the good, bad, and not-so-fun decisions I made,” he told the publication.

Even with his duties officially ended, Kristiansen still has his company laptop and office access badge.

Kristiansen’s journey with Microsoft began in 2002 when he was hired by Navision, a Danish software company. He had no plans to stay long, but shortly afterward, Microsoft acquired Navision, and what was supposed to be a short-term role became a career spanning over two decades. Over the years, he played a pivotal role in product development and team leadership.

Embracing Change And Planning The Future

Despite the layoff, Kristiansen admitted he felt an unexpected sense of relief. “I’ve found the work fulfilling, but around five years ago, I started dreaming of my own business,” he said. On the day he was let go, he had a hunch. “I said to my wife: ‘This is it. I’m pretty sure I’m going to be laid off.’ I thought I might feel upset, but, in reality, it was kind of a relief,” states the report.

Now approaching 60, Kristiansen is not keen to return to the 60-hour work weeks that previously defined his role. Instead, he plans to offer CTO services, project management, and motivational speaking engagements—all on his own terms, with flexibility for travel and fitness.

Microsoft Braces For Another Wave Of Layoffs

Kristiansen’s story comes amid reports of more turbulence at Microsoft. According to Bloomberg, the company is preparing another round of layoffs, this time within its Xbox division as part of a wider corporate restructuring. The job cuts are expected to affect thousands and represent the fourth such round since early 2023.

The move follows Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year—the largest in its history. With the financial year ending on June 30, leadership is reportedly focused on trimming costs and boosting profits across various units, including Xbox’s hardware and software operations.