Microsoft reshuffles communications team as Nadella, Smith issue employee memo

Microsoft is changing the way it communicates externally. The company is moving its communications team out of the marketing organisation and into the corporate, external, and legal affairs group led by President Brad Smith, according to internal memos from Smith and CEO Satya Nadella. However, the most significant change may lie in how Microsoft employees speak on behalf of the company. Nadella stated that the company wants engineers, salespeople, partners, and other employees close to its products and customers to play a more active role in telling Microsoft's story.

"We are likely to have more employees and executives acting as part of Microsoft's public voice, including on social media," Smith wrote in his memo.

Why is Microsoft changing its communications strategy?

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described this communications reorganisation as a response to a media landscape that has become "more fragmented and noisier than ever." Instead of relying primarily on a central communications team to define Microsoft's public message, the CEO wants the people closest to the company's work to play a more significant role.

"In many ways, the people closest to the work have the best opportunity to shape the perception of Microsoft," Nadella wrote. He noted that Microsoft wants engineers, salespeople, partners, and others "closest to our products and customers" to become "an even bigger part of how we tell our story—all under a shared strategy and set of principles."

Nadella added: "We will learn, experiment, and evolve. There is a fundamentally new way to understand communications, and this team will be key to building it."

Microsoft’s communications team will now report to Brad Smith

Under the new structure, Microsoft’s communications division will be integrated into the organisation led by President Brad Smith, rather than reporting to the marketing department. Smith’s organisation manages Microsoft’s legal, regulatory, and public policy affairs, including antitrust issues, litigation, and government relations. Consequently, the communications team will work alongside these areas, although Microsoft plans to maintain coordination between communications and marketing.

Satya Nadella described Smith as one of the few Microsoft leaders who authentically "embody the voice of Microsoft." He also praised Smith’s "extraordinary ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, conviction, and confidence."

What will happen to Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s head of communications?

The restructuring also alters the role of Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft’s longtime head of communications. Earlier this month, Shaw announced he would leave the company at the end of the year after more than two decades of service. He will now step down from his current responsibilities to serve as an advisor to Smith and interim communications leader Brent Colburn during the transition period.

Microsoft stated that Shaw will remain with the company until the end of the year. He described this latest development as the formalisation of a previously announced plan.

The company noted that Shaw "has been a trusted advisor and leader at Microsoft for over two decades, and we appreciate his continued role as an advisor during the transition."

Satya Nadella also thanked Shaw for his contributions. He stated that Shaw has made "enormous contributions to the company and our communications organisation over more than 17 years" and has been "a great source of counsel for our leadership team and for me personally during the company's most important moments."

Smith also praised Shaw, noting that he had "worked as closely with him as almost anyone else" over the years. Smith added, "Shaw’s lasting impact on Microsoft and this team will be felt for years to come. I will miss him."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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