(Original title: Magic Leap Hires Top Microsoft Executive as C.E.O. Peggy Johnson, who led Microsoft’s business development, will take over the struggling virtual reality start-up in August.)

NetEase Technology News July 8, according to foreign media reports, local time on Tuesday, augmented reality device startup Magic Leap said that the company has hired Microsoft executive Peggy Johnson (Peggy Johnson) as CEO. Magic Leap is currently shifting its focus from consumers to businesses.

Johnson will begin his role at Magic Leap in August this year. Although the virtual reality headset previously promoted by Magic Leap caused some sensation, the product went on the market after many delays, and the industry's evaluation of the product was tepid, and sales did not meet expectations.

In December of last year, Magic Leap announced that it would focus on the strategy to the enterprise rather than the consumer, which is more in line with Johnson's work experience at Microsoft.

Johnson, 58, said she saw opportunities in Magic Leap's "space" technology that projects digital images into the real world.

Johnson was an executive at Qualcomm and joined Microsoft six years ago. She likened the prospects of "space" technology to early cellular technology and cloud computing.

She said: "I feel like at the same point in time." Johnson said that as people increase remote work and reduce travel, this opportunity is greater. She added that the possible uses of this technology include vocational training, medical field and industrial automation.

In April of this year, Magic Leap laid off about 600 of its 1900 employees. A spokesperson said that since then the company has received another $375 million in financing.

Johnson's departure means that Microsoft will lose one of the three female executives. Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood and Human Resources Director Kathleen Hogan are also members of Microsoft's 16-person senior leadership team.

After becoming CEO in 2014, Nadella picked Johnson from Qualcomm and became one of its first hired executives. Johnson is responsible for business development at Microsoft, is responsible for the management of major partnerships and presides over company acquisitions. In 2016, Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion, setting a record for the company's acquisition.

In 2016, Johnson helped create a venture capital fund at Microsoft to directly invest in startups engaged in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Johnson said she has always been eager to become a CEO. "I chose here," she said. "At this time, it really means that I will leave Microsoft to enter this field, because Microsoft is doing very well." (Chenchen)

Source: NetEase Technology Report