The leaders of Windows and Office are now getting promoted and report directly to Satya Nadella.
Rajesh Jha, executive vice president of Microsoft’s experiences and devices group, is retiring after more than 35 years at the company. Jha played a significant role in transitioning Microsoft’s Office suite to the cloud and recently oversaw Microsoft 365 Copilot, Windows, Office, and more.
“After 35+ years at Microsoft, I am moving into retirement,” Jha stated 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 no direct replacement for his role is being promoted. Instead, four of his direct reports are being elevated to executive vice president, reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella. These include Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri, Office chief and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslanksky, head of business and industry Copilot Charles Lamanna, and president of Microsoft 365 Core Perry Clarke.
“Rajesh has been a constant throughout my entire life at Microsoft,” Nadella wrote in a memo to employees. “When I think about the pantheon of leaders who have truly shaped this company, Rajesh stands firmly among them.”
Jha’s departure marks the latest change to the teams managing products like Office and Windows. Microsoft previously promoted LinkedIn chief Ryan Roslansky to head of Office, and Windows chief Pavan Davuluri was promoted to president of Windows and devices. Satya Nadella also appointed a new CEO of commercial businesses last year. Judson Althoff now runs Microsoft’s biggest businesses, allowing Nadella to focus on more technical work.
This latest shakeup seems like another flattening of Microsoft’s upper management, enabling the leaders of Windows, Office, and other products to report directly to Nadella. Jha mentioned that Microsoft’s priorities “around Secure Future Initiative, Quality Engineering Initiative, and Copilot remain unchanged,” and that full details on the new organization structure will be communicated by the end of June.
News of Jha’s retirement follows the recent announcement of former Xbox chief Phil Spencer’s retirement. Spencer is leaving Microsoft after nearly 40 years, with Asha Sharma as the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Spencer will remain an advisor through the summer to support the transition.