Dive Brief:
- Microsoft’s General Counsel Brad Smith was appointed the company’s president and chief legal officer on Friday, reports the Wall Street Journal.
- Smith is the first company-wide president since Richard “Rick” Belluzzo resigned in 2002.
- It’s unclear at this point which parts of the company Smith will oversee in his expanded role.
Dive Insight:
Microsoft said Smith will manage employees beyond the legal division, but it’s unclear which parts of the company he will oversee at this point.
“Brad has long had a broad role at the company and now I’m asking him to lead more new initiatives,” wrote Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella in a Friday email to employees, adding that Smith will now be responsible for “privacy, security, accessibility, environmental sustainability and digital inclusion.”
Former president Beluzzo's role was more operationally focused.
Smith has served as Microsoft’s general counsel since 2002.
