Ben Fathi

We heard rumblings a few weeks ago that Ben Fathi, one of Microsoft's top Windows executives, was contemplating a career move, and today we were able to confirm through sources that Fathi is leaving to take a senior executive position with Cisco Systems Inc.

Microsoft declined to comment, but the timing would be right: It's not uncommon for the Windows division to make internal adjustments after a major release. With the debut of Windows 7 last week, Fathi's move might be the start of a series of shifts by executives and engineers as the division gears up for the development of Windows 8.

"It would make sense that this is the time for people to move on," said Matt Rosoff, an industry analyst at Directions on Microsoft, which produces an organizational chart widely used to track Microsoft execs.

Fathi was working most recently in the Windows Core Operating System Division, as corporate vice president of development, reporting to senior vice president Jon DeVaan. In that role, Fathi oversaw key development areas for Windows and Windows Server, including the kernel and hypervisor, according to his bio. Previously he led the Redmond company's Security Technology Unit.

We've left messages seeking more information about Fathi's new role from representatives of Cisco Systems, the San Jose, Calif.-based networking equipment and network management company, and we'll update this post depending on what we hear back.