Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s consumer chief marketing officer and one of its longest-serving executives, is leaving the company after 35 years. He announced the decision in an internal memo to staff on Thursday, first reported by Business Insider. Mehdi isn’t walking out the door immediately. He plans to work through the next fiscal year—which at Microsoft ends in June 2027—before stepping away. Until then, his brief is clear: reimagining Windows for what Microsoft is calling the “agentic era,” growing Microsoft 365 services, and pushing forward the company’s One Copilot vision. In other words, this is a long, structured handover rather than a quick exit.“After 35 extraordinary years at Microsoft—years filled with adventure, challenge, reinvention, and innovation—I’ve decided the time is right to begin planning for my next adventure,” Mehdi wrote in the memo obtained by Business Insider.He’s working with CEO Satya Nadella and chief marketing officer Takeshi Numoto on the transition. Microsoft has not named a successor yet, and the company didn’t immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
From Windows 95 to Copilot Plus PCs, Mehdi’s career span across Microsoft’s biggest bets
Mehdi joined Microsoft as an intern in the early ’90s. He worked on the launches of Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, then spent more than a decade running the company’s search and online businesses, including the launch of Bing—the years Microsoft tried, and largely failed, to dethrone Google. He later helped roll out the Xbox One, Windows 10, and most recently Copilot Plus PCs in 2024. In recent years, he’s been the executive on stage at most of Microsoft’s big consumer announcements.His memo nods to that long arc. “I’ve had the privilege of being a part of some of the most consequential shifts in technology—from the rise of Windows and the early Internet, to search, gaming, devices, and now one of the most profound platform transitions yet: AI,” he wrote.
Yusuf Mehdi’s exit lands in the middle of Satya Nadella’s AI reboot at Microsoft
The departure adds to a growing list of senior exits as Nadella retools Microsoft for the AI race. Business Insider reports the CEO has quietly retired the company’s traditional senior leadership team—internally known as the SLT—and replaced it with smaller, flatter groups built around corporate operations, engineering, and a new Copilot leadership trio of Charles Lamanna, Jacob Andreou, and Ryan Roslansky.Longtime product chief Rajesh Jha is retiring on July 1. Phil Spencer was replaced as gaming CEO by Asha Sharma in February. Charlie Bell, who once ran Microsoft’s 10,000-person security organisation, now shows up on internal charts as simply “engineer” with zero reports. It’s a stark snapshot of how fast Microsoft’s old power map is being redrawn.Mehdi, for his part, signed off with a promise to push hard till the end. “I’ll be fully engaged, likely more intensely than ever,” he wrote.
Read Yusuf Mehdi’s full memo to staff
Team,After 35 extraordinary years at Microsoft – years filled with adventure, challenge, reinvention, and innovation – I’ve decided the time is right to begin planning for my next adventure!It’s an exciting but difficult decision, as Microsoft has been far more than a place to work. It has truly been the canvas for my life’s work.I’ve had the privilege of being a part of some of the most consequential shifts in technology – from the rise of Windows and the early Internet, to search, gaming, devices, and now one of the most profound platform transitions yet: AI.But while the products and platforms have been remarkable, the most meaningful part of this journey has always been the people. The teams I’ve worked alongside, learned from, built with, and grown with are what have made this experience so special.As I thought about this decision, one thing was crystal clear: I want to ensure I have the time and space to set the team – and our mission – up for continued success. We are in the middle of an incredibly important moment for Microsoft and for our customers.With that in mind, and in alignment with Satya and Takeshi, I will work through the next fiscal year to help reimagine Windows for the agentic era, grow Microsoft 365 services, and bring our One Copilot vision to life.Those of you who know me, know this means I’ll be fully engaged, likely more intensely than ever! I’ve always believed the right way to finish is the same way I’ve always tried to lead: with urgency, ambition, and a commitment to leave things stronger than I found them.There will be time later to reflect and celebrate, but for now, it’s full speed ahead on our mission. I’m genuinely thrilled about the year ahead and grateful for the opportunity to spend it building alongside the teams here at Microsoft in service of our customers.With deep gratitude,Yusuf
Leave a Reply