Microsoft top Office executive Rajesh Jha retiring after more than 35 years

Microsoft announced on Thursday that Rajesh Jha, its prominent executive overseeing the Office division, will retire in July after an impressive tenure of more than 35 years with the company. This news marks a pivotal moment for Microsoft, particularly as it navigates the competitive landscape alongside generative artificial intelligence firms such as Anthropic and OpenAI. Jha's exit follows closely on the heels of the retirement of Phil Spencer, the long-serving head of Microsoft's gaming division. Under Jha's leadership, Microsoft has successfully integrated AI models from these burgeoning startups into the Microsoft 365 Copilot, enhancing the functionality of its widely utilized commercial subscriptions. In a memo reflecting on Jha's significant impact, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella praised him as a key figure in shaping the company. "When I think about the pantheon of leaders who have truly shaped this company, Rajesh stands firmly among them," Nadella stated. He emphasized that Jha's dedication has been instrumental in transforming Microsoft into the powerhouse it is today, laying a robust foundation for future growth. Following Jha's departure, four leaders within the Experiences and Devices group will report directly to Nadella. This includes LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, who expanded his role to oversee Office applications and the M365 Copilot AI app, and Pavan Davuluri, responsible for Surface devices and Windows operating systems. Additionally, Charles Lamanna, president of business and industry Copilot, and Perry Clarke, president of Microsoft 365 Core, will also report to Nadella. Jha announced that Jeff Teper, a veteran with 34 years at Microsoft, will be elevated to executive vice president, while fellow executives Sumit Chauhan and Kirk Koenigsbauer will also receive promotions to president titles. In his memo, Jha expressed that this restructuring aims to minimize disruption and maintain the company's current momentum, urging employees to remain focused on Copilot and cybersecurity initiatives. Microsoft 365's commercial cloud revenue saw a significant increase of 17%, contributing over 30% to the company's overall sales in the December quarter. However, the Windows and Devices segment experienced a slight decline, accounting for less than 6% of total revenue. Additionally, Microsoft announced the upcoming launch of a premium $99 per month Microsoft 365 E7 subscription featuring Copilot capabilities. Before leading one of Microsoft's largest engineering teams, Jha made contributions to various Microsoft Works releases and multimedia technology, as well as managing teams focused on Exchange, SharePoint, Project, and Outlook products, according to his biography from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, where he studied computer science.