As Microsoft’s cloud and enterprise group chief, Nadella oversees the company’s server software and back-end technology for corporate customers. He also is in charge of several consumer cloud products, including Office 365, as well as the Bing search engine, Xbox Live and Skype. Prior to joining Microsoft, Nadella worked at Sun Microsystems, which is now owned by Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500).
Microsoft has named Satya Nadella as its new CEO and announced that founder Bill Gates will step down as chairman of the company’s board.
Nadella is a 22-year veteran of Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) who has been overseeing various aspects of the company’s corporate software business since 1992. Over the past several years, Nadella’s cloud and enterprise division has been one of Microsoft’s best-performing units.
Nadella has been named CEO amid a major transition at Microsoft. He is replacing Steve Ballmer, who announced in August that he was stepping down as CEO. The company’s famed consumer business is struggling, including sales of Windows. Meanwhile, corporate revenue now makes up two-thirds of Microsoft’s overall sales and is instrumental in driving Microsoft’s growth.
“During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella,” said Gates in a prepared statement. “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.”
Microsoft also said that Gates will be working closely with Nadella in a new technology adviser role. Gates will be replaced by current Microsoft board member and former Symantec (SYMC, Fortune 500) CEO John Thompson as new chairman of Microsoft. Gates and Ballmer will remain on the company’s board.
Nadella was Microsoft’s second-highest paid executive last year, earning $7.7 million in salary, bonuses and stock grants. Only chief operating officer Kevin Turner made more. Microsoft has not yet announced Nadella’s new compensation package.
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