Frank Shaw Leaves Microsoft | Tech News

0:00On September 11th, Frank Shaw, the Chief Communications Officer at Microsoft, is stepping down after 17 years with the company. He's been a key figure in shaping how Microsoft talks about itself, handling everything from major product launches to massive acquisitions like LinkedIn and Activision Blizzard. He's been at Microsoft for nearly 20 years, with additional time spent at an agency before that, making his tenure quite significant in the tech. World. Shaw is highly regarded in the public relations field, even being named the number one most powerful person in PR recently. Within Microsoft, he's known for being direct but fair, earning respect from executives and employees alike. Many folks apparently dreaded getting an email from him, fearing they might have slipped up on a product detail or said something they shouldn't have. He's not exactly retiring, but he plans to take some time off before diving into whatever's next. What that next is, remains a mystery, as Shaw, true to his profession, is keeping it under wraps.

1:02Whether it's AI startups, professional sourdough baking, or something else entirely, he's not spilling the beans just yet. Microsoft has an announced a replacement for Shaw, and he'll be sticking around until the end of the year. He mentioned in a note to his team that the company is working on the next steps, and an update should be coming in the next few weeks. So, while he's leaving his current role, he'll be around for a bit longer to ensure a smooth transition. Shaw did share a note with his communications team, comparing them to a loyal crew from a book series, calling them his, Ca-Tet. He expressed immense gratitude for their work together, and assured them they'd still have time to collaborate on projects before his departure at the end of December. This has been Tech News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.