Microsoft makes Dona Sarkar head of Windows 10 Insider Program

She's now using a Lumia 950 (not an XL because she's writing an app for Continuum and she discovered that "more people tend to carry the smaller phones") and a Surface Book, the logical choice for someone who's part of the Windows Insider Program.

As the operating system evolved into Windows 7 and 8, Sarkar was responsible for the Windows search experience.

Gabe Aul has been the public face of the popular Windows 10 testing program since its inception in the fall of 2014 and he has been there announcing builds, helping testers with questions on Twitter and even taking some heat for bugs but he has constantly done it with a smile on his face.

Now, Gabe is passing on his Windows Insider lead role to Dona Sarkar as he thought he can not give his 100% to the Windows Insider Program in addition to his current job.

Writing in a blog post, Aul said: "I have worked with Dona for many years and think she is the ideal person to guide the Windows Insider Program forward".

Gabe Aul was introduced as leader of the Windows Insider Program over 18 months ago. I have been so incredibly fortunate to get to know many of you in person, at events like Build and Mobile World Congress, and virtually via Twitter. "Every day working on this program I've felt so energized and excited about the fact that we are building Windows together". Where I would ignore the insanity, or simply block the biggest crazies, he has more of an "everyone is a winner" take on things, regards all feedback as valuable, and appreciates that people have such enthusiasm.

A self-described "absolute device hardware geek", Sarkar worked as the lead developer for Windows Vista on device-focused features like Autoplay, Bluetooth and Blu-Ray integration into Windows. Microsoft credits her with developing the Windows search experience, managing teams that created the search box in Windows 7's Start menu, the File Explorer tool and the Open/Save dialogs, and Windows 8 search functions for tablets.

Dona has already released her very first Windows 10 Mobile build in the role of Windows Insider Program leader and promises to keep us up to date with everything Windows 10, just as Gabe Aul did. "She also did a stint as the product lead for the Windows Driver Signing portal for Windows 10". "Any time you needed to find something in Windows, you used my feature", she said proudly.

Source: Microsoft makes Dona Sarkar head of Windows 10 Insider Program