Software company announced new structure_ of it_s business.

Microsoft splits into 5 groups Microsoft Corp. Monday announced a long-awaited reorganization, dividing the company into five major groups and naming two veteran executives to head its online operations.In a statement, Microsoft said the new structure "more closely maps to Microsoft_s core customers," including business technology managers,"knowledge workers," software developers and consumers.Among the changes, vice presidents Brad Chase and Jon DeVaan will head the new consumer and commerce group, taking on leadership of the MSN.com Internet properties, among others. Microsoft President Steve Ballmer has been handling those responsibilities since group Vice President Pete Higgins took a personal leave in December.Senior Vice President Jim Allchin will oversee both the business enterprise division and the consumer Windows division.Senior Vice President Bob Muglia will oversee the new business productivity group, and group Vice President Paul Maritz will be in charge of the developer group.The company also created a separate home and retail products division to focus on consumer-targeted retail products such as games, input devices and reference products."This new structure is part of the reinvention of Microsoft," Ballmer said in a statement."Software is going to play a far broader role in our lives than we can even imagine today," he said. "When we took stock of our ability to meet these future opportunities, it became clear that we were organized to meet today_s needs but not those of the next decade." Ballmer also announced the formation of a 14-member team led by Gates and himself that will meet monthly to discuss the company_s goals, replacing a smaller executive committee. CNN