Internal memos: Microsoft shakes up communications as Nadella makes a push to build in public

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella speaks onstage at Microsoft Build 2026 in San Francisco. (Photo by Dan DeLong for Microsoft) Microsoft is moving its communications function out of its marketing group and into the corporate, external and legal affairs organization led by Brad Smith, its vice chair and president, according to internal emails Thursday from Smith and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Brent Colburn , Microsoft’s VP of global public affairs, was named interim communications leader