Bangalore: Microsoft is in a radical change, new hardware, new operating system, new business strategies and the man behind the most drastic change to Microsoft’s ubiquitous operating system in 17 years is Steven Sinofsky, the President of Widows and Windows Live at the company. And apparently, he is being cited as the Heir to Steve Ballmer, the present CEO of Redmond software giant.

Sinofsky was the man who held responsibility for running Microsoft’s heart, the Windows operating system, from past three years. He cleared up the mess created by Windows Vista and launched Windows 7 on time. According to Business Insider, Sinofsky is an “extremely polarizing figure, Stubborn, Secretive and Dictatorial, best known for delivering exactly what he promises, and always on time.” And with the launch of Windows 8 on time, he had strengthened that belief. According to many people at Microsoft, this is what earned him the trust and respect of both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.

With the launch of Windows 8, the thing is pretty much clear to many, unless the new operating system is an utter failure, Steven Sinofsky will be the next CEO of the company.

Earlier in 2009, at a Microsoft event, Steve Ballmer had told other leaders to “align” with Windows team, since it drives all the products of the company. For the people who didn’t understand what he said, Sinofsky gave an explanation: “Plan first, then build. Eliminate most middle management. Deliver exactly what you promise, exactly on time.”

Even though many executives at the company were not comfortable with this decision, Sinofsky’s method has since then become a standard in the company, even for products like database software and Bing, which Sinofsky doesn’t run. According to many insiders, he is close to Bill Gates and Ballmer and his methods have worked miracles for products like Office and Windows, Microsoft’s two biggest products.

So the fate of Microsoft’s biggest launch, may in turn decide the leader of the Redmond software giant.