Microsoft's former LinkedIn chief is leaving amid a wave of exec departures

Ryan Roslansky, the former CEO of LinkedIn, has announced his departure from the company, citing his reluctance to relocate to the Washington headquarters of Microsoft. Roslansky, who led LinkedIn for six years, oversaw a significant increase in membership, growing it from 700 million to 1.3 billion. In addition to his role at LinkedIn, Roslansky also held a position at Microsoft, overseeing the software giant's Office productivity software group.

The move follows the departures of other high-profile executives at Microsoft, including Phil Spencer, the former gaming CEO, and Rajesh Jha, the former executive vice president of Experiences and Devices. In a statement to employees, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted that Roslansky leaves the organization in a strong position. However, Roslansky himself expressed his decision to leave in a post on LinkedIn, stating that working full-time at the Washington office was not feasible for him and his family due to their current location in the Bay Area.

He emphasized that he had given the matter considerable thought and that the decision was the right one for his family. Roslansky expressed his excitement to see how the company's leadership team will proceed and move forward. The executive changes come as part of a broader reshuffling at Microsoft, which has seen the exit of other top executives recently.

Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch has moved to Mattel, while Mattel's CEO Ynon Kreiz is set to become co-CEO of Paramount-Warner Bros., in anticipation of the expected merger between the two studios.