Microsoft shakes up communications team; CEO Satya Nadella sends memo to employees
Microsoft is shifting its communications strategy to enhance the roles of its employees in public messaging. The company will move its communications team under Brad Smith's organization, focusing on legal and public affairs. Satya Nadella emphasized the importance of employees who are closer to products in telling Microsoft's story. Frank Shaw, the longtime communications chief, will transition…
Microsoft is restructuring its communications team as CEO Satya Nadella seeks to involve more employees in shaping the company's public image. The move involves relocating the communications team from marketing to the corporate, external, and legal affairs group led by Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. Nadella emphasizes the importance of engineers, sellers, partners, and other employees who are close to Microsoft's products and customers in telling the company's story.
The new structure will see Microsoft's communications function operating alongside legal, regulatory, and public policy work under Smith's leadership. This change follows Microsoft's acknowledgement of an increasingly fragmented and noisy media environment, where the company wants to shift towards a more decentralized approach to public messaging.
Longtime Microsoft communications chief Frank Shaw, who has been with the company for over two decades, announced his departure at the end of the year. Shaw will transition to an advisory role, working with Smith and interim communications leader Brent Colburn during the restructuring process. Both Smith and Nadella praised Shaw for his contributions to Microsoft's communications function over the years.
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