Microsoft Shifts Communications Under Vice Chair Brad Smith

Microsoft is integrating its communications group into its Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization, moving it away from the marketing department. The change means Microsoft's vice chair and president, Brad Smith, will now oversee the company's communications.

This restructuring comes as chief communications officer Frank Shaw is set to depart the company later this year. Shaw has been with Microsoft for nearly three decades, leading its communications efforts. CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged Shaw's contributions in an internal memo detailing the organizational changes.

Under this new structure, all communication teams, including corporate communications, investor relations, and public affairs, will report to Smith. This consolidation aims to align communication strategies more closely with Microsoft's broader corporate objectives and legal frameworks.

The company has initiated a search for Shaw's replacement. Brad Smith, who has led Microsoft's CELA division since 2015, is a key figure in the company's strategic direction and policy.