Microsoft Corp has named 22-year company veteran Satya Nadella as its next chief executive officer, ending a protracted search for a new leader after Steve Ballmer announced his intention to retire in August.
Nadella's journey, from being a Hyderabad boy to possibly helming one of the world's biggest technology companies is what dreams are made of.
Congratulate the India-born Microsoft CEO
Nadella's credentials may not have been immediately obvious in college, but at Microsoft he worked his way up the ladder, functioning closely under the leadership of founder and CEO Bill Gates and assuming several important positions across divisions including as senior vice president of R&D (Online Services Division), vice president of Microsoft Business Division and president of Microsoft's $19 billion server and tools business.
He called his appointment as CEO "humbling" in an email to the company's employees. He is only the third CEO in Microsoft's 39-year history, following co-founder Bill Gates and Ballmer.
Nadella, who led the creation of Microsoft's Internet-based, or "cloud," computing services, said in a videotaped statement that he would focus on "ruthlessly" removing any obstacles to innovation at the company.
Nadella emphasized on innovation, which he said would be his key focus. "While we have seen great success, we are hungry to do more. Our industry does not respect tradition -- it only respects innovation. This is a critical time for the industry and for Microsoft."
Nadella said he is there to change the world through technology that empowers people to do amazing things. "I believe over the next decade computing will become even more ubiquitous and intelligence will become ambient," he said.
