Microsoft's Joe Belfiore has been the face of the company's Windows Phone efforts for years. After taking on a bigger role to oversee Windows on phones, tablets, and PCs a couple of years ago, Belfiore is now taking a year-long break from the software giant. Belfiore was noticeably absent from Microsoft's big hardware event earlier this month, and he's clearly ready to take a break from his job to focus on his family.

Belfiore revealed his plans on Facebook, noting that he's planning to head out to sea with his family for a worldwide trip. Once the trip is over, Belfiore says he'll be straight back to Microsoft. The timing comes just as Microsoft finishes off its Windows 10 Mobile work, and as the company prepares to ship a fresh update to Windows 10 for PCs.

We think a floating college campus will be an amazing environment for everyone in our family to get a chance to see and experience the diversity all around the world and better appreciate what we have here. We’ve coveted the opportunity to spend a lot of time with each other and our kids—and we’re taking advantage of it while we can!

As for me and my job… when the trip is over, I’ll be right back at it! I’m proud to have spent the last 25 years working for a thoughtful and considerate company here at Microsoft. It’s a company and community whose values align with mine and whose management has been completely supportive of me and my family in pursuing this idea.

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