Microsoft Loses Longtime EVP Rajesh Jha in Senior Leadership Shake-Up

Rajesh Jha to Retire from Microsoft After 35 Years

Rajesh Jha, the esteemed leader who spearheaded Microsoft’s major consumer and business products as the executive vice president of the Experiences + Devices group, has announced his retirement later this year. With a remarkable tenure of over 35 years at the company, Jha’s retirement plan was internally disclosed on Thursday through publicly released emails from Microsoft.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed his admiration for Jha, stating, “When I think about the pantheon of leaders who have truly shaped this company, Rajesh stands firmly among them.” Jha, aged 60, is set to transition out on July 1 but will continue to serve in an advisory capacity. He revealed that he and Nadella have been actively engaged in succession planning for some time.

As part of this transition, four key executives will now report directly to Nadella. These executives include Perry Clarke, overseeing Microsoft 365 core infrastructure; Charles Lamanna, leading business and industry initiatives; Pavan Davuluri, responsible for Windows and Devices; and LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky.

Furthermore, Jeff Teper, the leader of collaboration apps such as SharePoint and Teams, is being promoted to the role of EVP. In addition, Sumit Chauhan and Kirk Koenigsbauer are being elevated to the position of president within the organization.

This announcement follows a series of departures from Microsoft’s senior leadership team. Earlier this year, Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced his retirement after a remarkable 38-year tenure, while security leader Charlie Bell transitioned from his EVP role to an individual contributor position.

These leadership changes align with Nadella’s strategic vision to restructure the company’s leadership around a broader group of direct reports, with a strong emphasis on AI and innovation as primary focus areas.

Jha’s journey at Microsoft began in 1990 as a software design engineer, progressing through various roles overseeing pivotal products such as Exchange, SharePoint, and the launch of Office 365. Eventually, he assumed leadership of the Experiences + Devices group, overseeing Office, Teams, Windows, Search, and devices. In 2016, Jha joined Nadella’s senior leadership team.

In a heartfelt message, Nadella commended Jha’s operational acumen and strategic foresight, acknowledging him as a constant presence throughout his own Microsoft journey. Nadella highlighted Jha’s unwavering commitment to the company’s growth and transformation.