LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner explains the reasoning behind Microsoft acquisition

Microsoft has just announced its plans to acquire professional social network LinkedIn in an all-cash transaction for $26.2 billion. This is probably Microsoft’s biggest acquisition since Satya Nadella has taken over.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO as well as LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner (who will continue to remain CEO post the acquisition) have both sent out mails to employees explaining the reasoning behind the acquisition.

Weiner started off his email by reminiscing about his first day at LinkedIn, under Reid Hoffman’s leadership. According to Weiner, the last 7.5 years are just the beginning of LinkedIn’s realisation of its full potential and purpose. Weiner stated that,“creating economic opportunity will be the defining issue of our time.”

Speaking about Microsoft and Satya Nadella, Weiner said, “The Microsoft that has evolved under Satya’s leadership is a more agile, innovative, open and purpose-driven company. It was that latter point that first had me thinking we could make this work, but it was his thoughts on how we’d do it that got me truly excited about the prospect.”

Weiner stated how the two companies have pretty much similar purpose - that of connecting professionals and empowering individuals in their personal and professional capacities.

Some of the ideas discussed between Nadella and Weiner include:

• Massively scaling the reach and engagement of LinkedIn by using the network to power the social and identity layers of Microsoft’s ecosystem of over one billion customers.
• Accelerating our objective to transform learning and development by deeply integrating the Lynda.com/LinkedIn Learning solution in Office alongside some of the most popular productivity apps on the planet
• Expanding beyond recruiting and learning & development to create value for any part of an organization involved with hiring, managing, motivating or leading employees.
• Redefining social selling through the combination of Sales Navigator and Dynamics.

LinkedIn will continue to operate as a separate entity, with Weiner as the CEO. Assuring the employess, Weiner has stated that there will be very few changes at the employee level.

“You’ll have the same title, the same manager, and the same role you currently have. The one exception: For those members of the team whose jobs are entirely focused on maintaining LinkedIn’s status as a publicly traded company, we’ll be helping you find your next play. In terms of everything else, it should be business as usual. We have the same mission and vision; we have the same culture and values; and I’m still the CEO of LinkedIn,” stated Weiner.