Microsoft’s head of communications is leaving after spending nearly 29 years at company: Read his internal memo to employees
Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s longtime chief communications officer, is stepping down after leading the company’s corporate messaging through nearly three decades of industry shifts, major leadership transitions and massive multi-billion-dollar corporate acquisitions. Shaw announced his departure in an internal memo to staff and shared a note on LinkedIn, writing that he has decided it is time for him to move on and try new things. His exit caps a nearly 29-year association with Microsoft’s public profile, comprising nearly two decades as an in-house employee preceded by years managing the company’s account at external PR agency Waggener Edstrom (now known as WE Communications).Shaw has directed Microsoft’s strategic messaging since 1997, acting as the narrative anchor during the company’s history. He helped orchestrate public communication strategies across successive Windows launches, Office suites and the critical enterprise transition to cloud computing. Headed PR operations through transformative corporate buyouts, notably the $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in 2016 and the $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard in 2023, as per The Verge.
Here’s Shaw’s full internal memo to his communications team :
After 17 years in this role and nearly 29 working with the company, I’ve decided it is time for me to move on and try new things. Takeshi and I have been talking about this for a while, and I am excited about what’s next, for me and for Microsoft. I remain optimistic about the company mission, the incredible talent on this team, and how much the company depends on us during this critical time. I’ll be here through the end of the calendar year, and the company is working through next steps, look for an update in the next few weeks. I know you will have many questions, and I’m looking forward to talking to you at our AMA here later this morning.A while back, there was a social media trend where people answered the question, “What topic could you give a 30-minute presentation on with no preparation?” Me, I could talk about the US Marines, the changing nature of influence, sourdough starter, the Oregon Ducks, but my go to would have to be aspects of Stephen King’s the Dark Tower books, starting with “The Gunslinger;” the question then becomes which particular aspect. A quick primer, the series follows Roland Deschain, the last of the gunslingers (a mix between mayor/judge/sheriff), as he chases the man in black through time and dimensions in a quest to save the world. The question embedded throughout is if it is possible for Roland to retain his identity and meaning in a world that had moved on. The refrain is that the world moves on, move with it or fall. Can Roland move and grow, or will he be stuck? One of the concepts that sticks with me comes as we are introduced to more characters, now moving with Roland. He introduces the concept of ‘ka-tet’ to describe them. ‘Ka’ is essentially fate, or destiny, and ‘tet’ translates to a group of people, put together for a larger meaning – a group brought together with a shared mission and destiny, a group with shared goals, the willingness to sacrifice for those goals, with a deep emotional connection to each other and the ability to make and act on decisions with what can feel like supernatural speed.I’ve always loved the evolution from the solo gun slinger we meet in book one to the team that operates throughout the later books. Roland on his own was formidable but failed in his missions, as part of a ka-tet he was in the end successful.You, my friends, are my ka-tet. Together, we’ve accomplished amazing things. My gratefulness is endless.We will have time together still over the next set of months as we finalize decisions and deliver great work on behalf of the company, and I will be close by after. In the Dark Tower, the traditional departure saying is “long days and pleasant nights,” and so it will be, but not until December. 😊On LinkedIn, Shaw posted the following messageToday we announced that after 17 years as Chief Communications Officer at Microsoft, I’ve decided to leave the company. Including my time spent supporting Microsoft at an agency, I’ve worked closely with the company for nearly 29 years – and had a ringside seat at an incredible company during challenging and exciting times. The art of communications, the technology sector, the world around us, all have gone through massive change and growth, and I feel honored to have been a small part of that.I’ll be here through the end of the calendar year, and the company will be looking at internal and external candidates.The single biggest privilege I’ve had at work is leading the incredibly talented people who make up the global Microsoft communications team, past and present, and the agencies who support us. This team thrives in crisis, they are relentless innovators in the art and science of communication, and they are the best story hunters and tellers in the world – finding the big and small moments that illuminate the soul of the company. To you, my undying gratitude and respect. Keep going.Thank you as well to all the reporters, editors, writers, influencers and analysts who have put up with me over this time, enduring my early and late night calls, my off the record “no comments,” my bad story ideas and my extended commentary on headlines and positioning. You all have incredibly hard and valuable jobs, and while I’ve not agreed with everything said about us 😊 I appreciate you anyway.More to say about next at some point, but today – just thank you.
