Rajesh Jha, executive vice president of Microsoft’s experiences and devices group, is retiring after more than 35 years at the software giant. Jha was a big part of the team that helped move Microsoft’s Office suite to the cloud, and has recently been overseeing Microsoft 365 Copilot, Windows, Office, and more.
“After 35+ years at Microsoft, I am moving into retirement,” says Jha in an internal memo. “I will transition out on July 1st and then stay in an advisory role.” Jha is leaving at the end of June, but Microsoft isn’t promoting anyone as a direct replacement for Jha’s role. Instead, it’s promoting four of his direct reports to executive vice president, reporting directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. This includes Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri, Office chief and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslanksky, head of business and industry Copilot (BIC) Charles Lamanna, and president of Microsoft 365 Core Perry Clarke.
“Rajesh has been a constant throughout my entire life at Microsoft,” says Nadella in a memo to employees today. “When I think about the pantheon of leaders who have truly shaped this company, Rajesh stands firmly among them. He embodies the commitment that helped build and transform Microsoft into the company it is today, and it is on the strength of that foundation that we will continue to move forward.”
This latest shakeup looks like another flattening of Microsoft’s upper management, allowing the leaders of Windows, Office, and other products to report directly to Nadella. Jha says Microsoft’s priorities “around Secure Future Initiative, Quality Engineering Initiative, and Copilot remain unchanged,” and that the full details on the new organization structure will be communicated between now and the end of June.
News of Jha’s retirement comes just weeks after former Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced his own retirement from Microsoft. Spencer is leaving Microsoft after nearly 40 years, and Asha Sharma is the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Spencer will remain in an advisory role through the summer to support the transition.
