Microsoft puts Brad Smith in charge of communications

Microsoft has reorganized its communications function, moving it from the Marketing organization into Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA). The company has tapped vice chair and president Brad Smith to oversee the group while it searches for a permanent successor to Frank Shaw, the current chief communications officer who announced his departure earlier this month and will leave later in the year.

In an internal memo, CEO Satya Nadella thanked Shaw for more than 17 years of service and described the shift as a response to a media landscape he called "increasingly fragmented and noisier than ever." During the transition, Brent Colburn, vice president of global public affairs, will act as interim communications leader and will report to Smith. Nadella said Shaw will continue advising on the transition.

The memo also outlined a broader approach to communications that leans on employees closest to Microsoft’s products and customers — engineers, sellers, and partners — to play a larger role in telling the company’s story. Nadella framed the change as an opportunity to better connect product, marketing, and communications ahead of an active fall with several major events and announcements.

The reorganization follows ongoing efforts at Microsoft to compete in advanced AI development; the story notes parallels to AI startups where researchers and product teams take leading roles in public demos and technical communications. Microsoft said it is considering both internal and external candidates to replace Shaw permanently, and the company has not announced a final successor yet.