Microsoft’s head of comms is leaving after almost 20 years

Microsoft’s long-serving Chief Communications Officer, Frank Shaw, is departing the company after three decades shaping its public messaging. In a memo to staff, Shaw revealed he is moving on to new ventures, though he has yet to decide what is next. He and executive vice president and chief marketing officer Takeshi Numoto had been discussing his departure for some time and felt now was the best time. Shaw plans to remain with the company until the end of the year.

Shaw, 64, has been in his role for 17 years and previously served as president at We. Communications for 12 years. He has played a major role in shaping Microsoft's public communications, including through events, senior executive access, and other matters. Shaw, who graduated from the University of Oregon with a journalism degree, has worked in PR since the early 1990s and has collaborated with each of Microsoft's three CEOs – Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella.

In recent years, Microsoft has undergone significant changes, prioritizing the growth of its Copilot AI assistant and expanding its cloud computing business to meet AI demand. Shaw has advocated for AI efforts, shaped messaging on partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic, and defended less successful businesses like Xbox. Shaw served in the U.S. Marine Corps and currently resides in Seattle.