Satya Nadella appoints Brad Smith to lead Microsoft communications amid leadership shift

A company memo disclosed that CEO Satya Nadella is placing President Brad Smith in charge of Microsoft’s communications, taking over responsibilities formerly held by Chief Marketing Officer Takeshi Numoto. This restructuring occurs as chief communications officer Frank Shaw has announced his exit at the close of the year. Brent Colburn, the vice president for global public affairs, will serve as interim communications leader while reporting to Smith.

Nadella praised Smith’s deep understanding of the business and his ability to articulate complex topics, noting the importance of trusted communication amid the firm’s growing data-center footprint and AI initiatives. He also thanked Shaw for more than 17 years of service and outlined a plan to blend product storytelling, marketing, and communications, empowering engineers, sellers, and partners to shape Microsoft’s narrative.