Microsoft communications chief Frank Shaw steps down after 29 years

Frank Shaw, the longtime communications chief at Microsoft is stepping down after three decades leading the company’s corporate communications. His tenure spanned changes in the tech world, major shifts in leadership and several multi-billion-dollar acquisitions. Shaw announced Shaw’s departure in a memo to staff and shared a note on LinkedIn stating that Shaw has decided it is time to pursue new paths and try different things. Shaw’s exit concludes a 29-year tenure shaping Microsoft’s public image; Shaw’s period spans close to two decades as an in-house employee, preceded by years managing Microsoft’s account at the external PR agency Waggener Edstrom (now known as WE Communications).

Shaw has been in charge of Microsoft’s communications since 1997. He has been the person speaking for the company’s story. He worked on plans to communicate with the public for each release of Windows and the Office suite. He also worked on plans for the change in the company’s business to focus more on cloud computing. He was in charge of the relations, for big company buys. These included the $26.2 billion deal to buy LinkedIn in 2016 and the $69 billion deal to buy Activision Blizzard in 2023 according to a famous publication.

Here’s Shaw’s full internal memo to his communications team:

After 17 years in this role and almost twenty-nine years with the company I have decided that the time has come. The time is now for me to explore paths and try new things. I am excited about the time.

Takeshi and I have been talking about this for a while. I am very excited about what is coming—both for me and for Microsoft. I remain optimistic about Microsoft’s mission, the talent of this team and the important role the team plays for Microsoft at this crucial time. I will stay in the role until the end of the year; Microsoft is already working on the steps so you will get more information soon. I know you will have questions. I am eager to talk with you at our Q&A session later this morning.

A while back a trend started in the media where people answered the question: “What topic could you give a 30-minute presentation on with no prior preparation?” In my case I could talk about the U.S. Marines, the changing nature of influence, sourdough or the Oregon Ducks; however, my top choice would be parts of Stephen King’s ‘The Dark Tower’ saga starting with ‘The Gunslinger’—though the challenge would then be choosing which specific part to focus on. As an introduction: the series follows Roland Deschain, the last of the Gunslingers (a person who is like a mayor, a judge and a sheriff) as he hunts the Man in Black across time and different worlds, on a mission to save the world. The central question in the story is whether Roland can keep his identity and feel a sense of purpose in a world that has already moved forward. The idea keeps coming up—life goes on. You have to go with it or get left behind. Will Roland be able to change and grow. Will he stay stuck? One part that really stood out for me happens when we meet the people who travel with Roland. He calls them “ka-tet.” That word feels important like it holds meaning beyond being a group. It’s not about traveling together; it’s something deeper. “Ka” means destiny or providence. “Ka” is a word that says something is meant to happen. “Tet” means a group of people who’re together for a higher purpose. “Tet” is a group gathered around a shared mission and destiny. They have goals and are ready to make sacrifices for those goals. “Tet” members feel emotional bonds with each other. “Tet” can make decisions and act quickly. Sometimes it feels almost supernatural.

I have always loved the change that happened from the gunman we meet in the first book, to the group that works together in the later books. Roland alone was powerful. Roland could not finish Rolands missions. When Roland joined a ‘ka‑tet’ Roland finally succeeded.

You, my friends, are my ‘ka-tet’. Together we have done things. My gratitude goes on and on. We will still have time together in the coming months as we wrap up decisions and finish work for the company. I will stay close by after that. In the Dark Tower people say ” days and pleasant nights” when they part ways. So, it will not be until December.

On LinkedIn, Shaw posted the following message

Today we announced that after 17 years as Chief Communications Officer at Microsoft I have decided to leave the company. Including my time spent supporting Microsoft at an agency I have worked closely with the company for 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 change and growth and I feel honoured to have been a small part of that.

I will be here until the end of the calendar year. The company will be considering both internal and external candidates.

The single greatest privilege I have had at work is leading the talented people who are part of the global Microsoft communications team both those who are here now and those who have been here before and the agencies that help us. This team does well in times of crisis. They are always coming up with ideas in the art and science of communication and they are the best at finding and sharing stories in the world – discovering the big and small moments that show the true spirit of the company. To you I have gratitude and respect. Keep going.

Thank you 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. Reporters, editors, writers, influencers analysts have hard and valuable jobs and while I have not agreed with everything said about us 😊 I appreciate reporters, editors, writers, influencers, analysts anyway.

More to say about next at some point, but today – just thank you.