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Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft's chief communications officer, is stepping down after nearly 29 years with the company. Shaw announced the decision through an internal memo to his team on Friday, September 11, and later shared the news publicly on LinkedIn.
He will stay on until the end of December to help with the transition. Shaw held the top communications role at Microsoft for 17 years, and his ties to the company go back even further through his earlier work at the outside PR agency Waggener Edstrom.
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In his note to staff, Shaw said he felt it was time to move on and try new things. He said he was discussing the move with Takeshi Numoto, Microsoft's chief marketing officer, for a while, and both agreed the timing felt right.
"I remain optimistic about the company mission, the incredible talent on this team, and how much the company depends on us during this critical time," Shaw wrote. He added that the team accomplished a great deal together and called his gratitude endless.
Shaw also thanked the reporters and analysts he worked with over the years, joking about the late-night calls and the "off the record no comments" he had given them.
In his own note to employees, Numoto said few people shaped Microsoft's voice and reputation as much as Shaw. Microsoft did not name a replacement yet and says it will look at candidates from inside and outside the company
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Shaw, 64, first began supporting Microsoft's communications in 1997, long before he formally joined the company. Over the years, he guided the company's public messaging through multiple CEO transitions, several Windows and Office launches, the antitrust battles of the early 2000s, and the Windows Vista backlash.
He also handled communications around major acquisitions, including LinkedIn and Activision Blizzard, and helped position Microsoft during its shift toward cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Reports suggest Shaw does not plan to retire. He does not have another job lined up yet and intends to take some time off before deciding on his next move. His exit adds to a string of long-serving Microsoft executives who have left the company this year, marking a notable shift in its leadership ranks.
