Microsoft names Satya Nadella as new CEO, Bill Gates steps down as Chairman

Microsoft has named Satya Nadella, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he was executive vice president of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group, responsible for building and running the company’s computing platforms, developer tools and cloud services. Company founder Bill Gates, has also stepped down from his role as chairman for a new role as technology adviser.

John Thompson - Microsoft Chairman

Microsoft announced on Tuesday that Nadella will replace Steve Ballmer, who said in August that he will be leaving the company in 12 months. Nadella will become the third executive to leave the software giant in its 38 year history, after founder Bill Gates and Ballmer. John Thompson, who is a board member will take over as the company's chairman.

Nadella has worked in Microsoft for 22 years, having previously worked at Sun Microsystems. He has worked as the senior vice president of R&D for the Online Services Division and vice president of the Microsoft Business Division. Later, he was made the president of Microsoft’s $19 billion Server and Tools Business and led a transformation of the company's business and technology culture from client services to cloud infrastructure and services. He has been credited for bringing Microsoft's database, Windows server and developer tools to its Azure cloud.

Analysts hope he will maintain the company's momentum in the rapidly expanding field of cloud computing while minimizing the negative impact from Microsoft's unprofitable ventures into consumer hardware.

Since its inception in 1975, Microsoft has grown as a software provider, first with its MS-DOS system, then with Windows and its Office productivity suite in the late 1980s. Unfortunately the company was late in adapting to developments in the technology industry, allowing Google to dominate with its online search and services while Android and Apple's iOS grew to siphon sales from the company's streghts in personal computers.

One of Nadella's first tasks would be integrating Nokia's handset and services business, which Microsoft agreed to purchase in September, along with various phone patent rights for 5.4 billion euros ($7.2 billion) under Ballmer's leadership. That deal is expected to be completed by the end of March.

It will be interesting to see how Nadella's experience in cloud services and business will direct Microsoft in the years ahead.


source - AP | Wikipedia