Microsoft named Satya Nadella — the company’s EVP of Cloud and Enterprise — as its new Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors.
Since joining Microsoft in 1992, Nadella has played a major role in the company’s shift to the cloud and the evolution of one of the world’s largest cloud infrastructures. This move comes at a time when many retailers are gravitating toward cloud computing as a way to provide employees with immediate and cost-effective access to corporate data from any location.
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Nadella will take charge of the multinational corporation just five months after former CEO Steve Ballmer announced he would retire once a replacement was hired.
“Microsoft is one of those rare companies to have truly revolutionized the world through technology, and I couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen to lead the company,” said Nadella. “The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly.”
The company also announced that Bill Gates will step down from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors, and will assume a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor. Gates will advise Nadella and help determine the company’s new technology and product strategies. John Thompson will be Gates’ successor as Chairman of the Board of Directors, while also continuing to serve as Lead Independent Director for the Board.
“During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella,” said Gates. “Satya is a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together. His vision for how technology will be used and experienced around the world is exactly what Microsoft needs as the company enters its next chapter of expanded product innovation and growth.”
