Prime Highlight:
- Satya Nadella has appointed Judson Althoff as CEO of Commercial Business to strengthen Microsoft’s global operations.
- The restructure allows Nadella to concentrate more closely on AI innovation and strategy.
Key Facts:
- Althoff will now oversee sales, marketing, operations, finance, and engineering, with CMO Takeshi Numoto reporting to him.
- The move comes amid Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar AI investments, including OpenAI and UK data centre expansion.
Background
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has appointed Judson Althoff as CEO of Commercial Business, a newly created role aimed at strengthening the company’s global operations while allowing Nadella to focus more closely on artificial intelligence.
Althoff, who has led Microsoft’s global sales for nearly a decade, will now oversee sales, marketing, operations, finance, and engineering functions. The restructure also shifts the marketing team led by Chief Marketing Officer Takeshi Numoto to report directly to him, though Numoto continues to coordinate with Nadella on corporate brand and planning.
In a memo to staff, Nadella called the change necessary during a “tectonic AI platform shift.” He said it will help Microsoft manage its large-scale commercial business while building the next frontier in AI.
The move follows Microsoft’s growing AI investments, including billions in OpenAI and a US$30bn commitment to UK data centres. In August, Microsoft added GPT-5 to its 365 Copilot tools, putting AI directly into the apps millions of people use every day.
CEO Satya Nadella highlighted AI’s economic potential, pointing out its ability to enhance productivity and drive GDP growth. “This will allow our engineering leaders and me to be laser-focused on our highest ambition technical work,” he said.
Althoff, in a LinkedIn post, said the restructure will ensure Microsoft continues aligning its technology with customer needs in the AI era.