Mike Maples Sr.

Mike Maples Sr.
Born	(1942-08-25)August 25, 1942 Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died	January 9, 2025(2025-01-09) (aged 82) Austin, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Oklahoma (B.S.)
Occupation	Technology executive
Years active	1968–1995
Known for	Executive Vice President at Microsoft
Spouse	Carolyn Maples
Children	Mike Maples Jr., Benton Maples

Mike Maples Sr. (August 25, 1942 – January 9, 2025) was an American technology executive best known for his role as Executive Vice President of the Worldwide Products Group at Microsoft. Joining the company in 1988, Maples played a pivotal role in shaping Microsoft's product development and organizational structure during a period of rapid growth. He was instrumental in the development of Microsoft Office and was known for introducing the concept of autonomous product units within the company. Maples retired from Microsoft in 1995 and later served on various corporate boards and engaged in philanthropic activities.

Early life and education

Maples was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, on August 25, 1942. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1965 and an MBA from Oklahoma City University in 1969. Between his degrees, he served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he was awarded two Bronze Stars for his service.

Career

IBM

Maples began his professional career at IBM in 1968, where he held various leadership roles over two decades, including Director of Software Strategy. His tenure at IBM provided him with extensive experience in software development and organizational management.

Microsoft

In 1988, Maples joined Microsoft as Executive Vice President of the Worldwide Products Group and became a member of the Office of the President, reporting directly to Bill Gates. At a time when Microsoft was transitioning from a startup to a global enterprise, Maples brought much-needed structure and discipline to the organization.

He reorganized Microsoft's applications division into distinct business units, each with its own development, product management, testing, and user education teams. This approach allowed products like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to operate with startup-like agility within the larger corporate framework. This structure was instrumental in Microsoft's ability to outpace competitors such as Lotus and WordPerfect.

Maples introduced the concept of the "highest order bit," emphasizing the importance of setting clear, overarching priorities to guide decision-making across the company. This principle became a cornerstone of Microsoft's strategic planning.

Under his leadership, Maples oversaw the development of key products, including Windows and Office, and was responsible for all product development and marketing activities. He became one of the three most senior executives at Microsoft, alongside Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, leading the entirety of Microsoft's product development.

Maples retired from Microsoft in July 1995.

Post-Microsoft activities

After retiring from Microsoft, Maples returned to Texas and became involved in various business and philanthropic endeavors. He served on the boards of several public and private companies, including Lexmark International, NetIQ, and Sonic Corp.

Personal life

Maples was married to his wife, Carolyn, and they had two sons, Mike Maples Jr. and Benton Maples. Mike Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and became a prominent venture capitalist at Floodgate Fund.

Death

Mike Maples Sr. passed away on January 9, 2025, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 82. His death was widely mourned in the tech community, with many reflecting on his significant contributions to the industry.

Legacy

Maples was widely respected for his calm demeanor, strategic insight, and ability to mentor emerging leaders within Microsoft. Bill Gates once remarked, "Mike has been a key architect in [Microsoft's] growth and success—few business leaders could claim a better record during a similar time."

Steven Sinofsky, a former Microsoft executive, credited Maples with mentoring a generation of leaders and instilling a culture of accountability and excellence.