It's final: Microsoft names India-born Satya Nadella as CEO

The search for Microsoft’s CEO is over. The company has confirmed in a press release that India-born Satya Nadella is the new CEO of the software giant. Microsoft Corp said in a press statement that the board of Directors has appointed Satya Nadella as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors with immediate effect.   Nadella was previously the company’s Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group.   “During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella,” said Bill Gates, Microsoft’s Founder and Member of the Board of Directors in the press statement.   “Satya is a proven leader with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together. 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,” Gates added.   Nadella joined the company in 1992, and was in charge of major strategy and technical shifts across the company’s portfolio of products. Of course the most notable service he’s known for is the company’s move to the cloud and the development of one of the largest cloud infrastructures in the world for supporting Bing, Xbox, Office and others.   “Microsoft is one of those rare companies to have truly revolutionised the world through technology, and I couldn’t be more honored to have been chosen to lead the company,” Nadella said.   “The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must focus clearly, move faster and continue to transform. A big part of my job is to accelerate our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly,” he adds.   “Having worked with him for more than 20 years, I know that Satya is the right leader at the right time for Microsoft,” said former CEO Steve Ballmer, who announced on 23 August, 2013 that he would retire once a successor was named.   “I’ve had the distinct privilege of working with the most talented employees and senior leadership team in the industry, and I know their passion and hunger for greatness will only grow stronger under Satya’s leadership,” he said.   Born in 1967 in Hyderabad, Nadella got his Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from the Manipal University, in India. He soon moved to the US in order to continue his education and received his Master of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Nadella also went on to get an MBA degree from University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Prior to his stint at Microsoft, Nadella worked as a technology staff member with Sun Microsystems.   Microsoft also announced that Bill Gates, previously Chairman of the Board of Directors, will assume a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor, and will devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction.   John Thompson, lead independent director for the Board of Directors, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors and remain an independent director on the Board.