Rajesh Jha, a key Microsoft executive for over 35 years who helped transition Office to the cloud, is retiring. His departure triggers a reorganization where four of his direct reports are promoted to executive vice president, reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella.
This restructuring flattens Microsoft's upper management, with the leaders of Windows, Office, and related products now reporting to Nadella. Microsoft states its strategic priorities around security, quality, and Copilot remain unchanged despite the leadership change.
The main topics covered are a high-profile executive retirement, a subsequent management reorganization, and the promotion of new leaders directly under the CEO.
Rajesh Jha, executive vice president of Microsoft’s experiences and devices group, is retiring after more than 35 years at the software giant. Jha was a big part of the team that helped move Microsoft’s Office suite to the cloud, and has recently been overseeing Microsoft 365 Copilot, Windows, Office, and more.
Microsoft’s head of experiences and devices is retiring, triggering a shakeup
The leaders of Windows and Office are now getting promoted and report directly to Satya Nadella.
The leaders of Windows and Office are now getting promoted and report directly to Satya Nadella.
“After 35+ years at Microsoft, I am moving into retirement,” says Jha in an internal memo. “I will transition out on July 1st and then stay in an advisory role.” Jha is leaving at the end of June, but Microsoft isn’t promoting anyone as a direct replacement for Jha’s role. Instead, it’s promoting four of his direct reports to executive vice president, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. This includes Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri, Office chief and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslanksky, head of business and industry Copilot (BIC) Charles Lamanna, and president of Microsoft 365 Core Perry Clarke.
“Rajesh has been a constant throughout my entire life at Microsoft,” says Nadella in a memo to employees today. “When I think about the pantheon of leaders who have truly shaped this company, Rajesh stands firmly among them. He embodies the commitment that helped build and transform Microsoft into the company it is today, and it is on the strength of that foundation that we will continue to move forward.”
Jha’s departure is the latest change to the teams managing products like Office and Windows. Microsoft promoted LinkedIn chief Ryan Roslansky to the head of Office last year, and Windows chief Pavan Davuluri was also promoted to president of Windows and devices. Satya Nadella also appointed a new CEO of the company’s commercial businesses last year. Judson Althoff now runs Microsoft’s biggest businesses, allowing Nadella to focus on more technical work.
This latest shakeup looks like another flattening of Microsoft’s upper management, allowing the leaders of Windows, Office, and other products to report directly to Nadella. Jha says Microsoft’s priorities “around Secure Future Initiative, Quality Engineering Initiative, and Copilot remain unchanged,” and that the full details on the new organization structure will be communicated between now and the end of June.
News of Jha’s retirement comes just weeks after former Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced his own retirement from Microsoft. Spencer is leaving Microsoft after nearly 40 years, and Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Spencer will remain in an advisory role through the summer to support the transition.
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