From The Verge · Tom Warren · · 1m 30s
Microsoft puts Brad Smith in charge of communications
Microsoft moves its communications group under legal affairs and names vice chair Brad Smith to lead it as Frank Shaw departs after 17 years.
In brief
Microsoft moves its communications group under legal affairs and names vice chair Brad Smith to lead it as Frank Shaw departs after 17 years. Microsoft is restructuring its communications function under Brad Smith and moving it from marketing to legal affairs as longtime chief communications officer Frank Shaw leaves…
Microsoft reshuffles communications leadership
Microsoft is moving its communications group from marketing into its Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs organization, effective immediately.
Frank Shaw departs after 17 years
Chief communications officer Frank Shaw is leaving Microsoft later this year after nearly three decades with the company.
Brad Smith takes the helm
Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith will oversee communications going forward, moving the role from chief marketing officer Takeshi Numoto.
Nadella explains the shift
CEO Satya Nadella says the move reflects a media environment that is increasingly fragmented and noisier than ever.
“a media environment that is increasingly fragmented and noisier than ever”
Empowering engineers to tell the story
Nadella wants engineers, sellers, and partners closest to products to become a bigger part of how Microsoft tells its story.
“help our engineers, sellers, partners, and others closest to our products and customers become an even bigger part of how we tell our story”
Interim leader named during transition
Brent Colburn, VP of global public affairs, becomes interim communications leader while Microsoft searches for Shaw's permanent replacement.
Smith's track record in public affairs
Smith is already Microsoft's public face for policy and corporate communications, regularly meeting with governments, regulators, and customers worldwide.
Search for permanent communications chief
Microsoft is considering both internal and external candidates to permanently replace Shaw later this year.
At a glance
Microsoft is restructuring its communications function under Brad Smith and moving it from marketing to legal affairs as longtime chief communications officer Frank Shaw leaves.
