Indo-American Satya Nadella Becomes Only The Third Top Man At Tech Behemoth Microsoft

WASHINGTON – Microsofton Tuesday named Indo-American Satya Nadella itsCEO and assigned co-founderBill Gates a larger role in thecompany as a technology adviserto the new boss.Nadella,46, will succeed SteveBallmer, who had announcedlast August his intention toretire, to become only the thirdCEO of the company in its 39-year history.“Satya is a proven leader withhard-core engineering skills,business vision and the ability tobring people together,” cofounderGates, who was also theRedmond-based company’s firstCEO, said in a statementannouncing the appointment.“His vision for how technologywill be used and experiencedaround the world is exactly whatMicrosoft needs as the companyenters its next chapter ofexpanded product innovationand growth,” he added.And among Nadella’s first decisionsas CEO, and one that hehad insisted upon during contractnegotiations, was to askGates to play a larger role in thecompany.“I’ve asked Bill to devote additionaltime to the company,focused on technology andproducts,” Nadella said in anemail to Microsoft employees.Gates will remain a member ofthe board but will step down asits chairman, and he will assumea new role as Founder andTechnology Advisor.Lead independent director ofthe board John Thompson, wholed the search of Ballmer’s successor,will be the new chairman,replacing Gates.Nadella has been called a “safechoice”, rather than someonewho would overhaul the companywhich, according to many,was needed for it to catch upwith rivals Google and Apple.Nadella was born and raised inHyderabad — cricket remains ahobby, he has said — studied atthe Manipal Institute ofTechnology in India andStanford and Wharton in theUS. He joined Microsoft in1992, and led major projectsincluding the company’s moveto the cloud and the developmentof one of the largest cloudinfrastructures in the world.During his tenure overseeingMicrosoft’s Server and ToolsBusiness, the division outperformedthe market and tookshare from competitors, said theannouncement. Apart frombeing shaped by his family andhis experiences, Nadella said inhis email to Microsoft employees,“I am also defined by mycuriosity and thirst for learning”.“I buy more books than I canfinish. I sign up for more onlinecourses than I can complete. Ifundamentally believe that ifyou are not learning new things,you stop doing great and usefulthings.”Nadella said he is “honoured,humbled and excited” by hisappointment.