« Back to article

Print this article

Microsoft still 'very relevant': Satya Nadella

Microsoft Corp named 22-year company veteran Satya Nadella as its next chief executive officer and said co-founder Bill Gates would step down as chairman and advise the new CEO on technology, marking an epochal change of control at the company that drove the PC revolution.

Nadella, a 46-year old born in India who led the creation of Microsoft's Internet-based, or "cloud" computing services, is only Microsoft's third CEO in 39 years, taking over from Steve Ballmer, who inherited the job from Gates in 2000.

Nadella, who describes himself as a cricket and poetry lover, called the appointment "humbling" in an email to the company's employees.

In a videotaped statement he said he would focus on "ruthlessly" removing any obstacles to innovation at the company.