Microsoft’s Communications Chief Departs After Nearly Two Decades

Frank Shaw is stepping away from Microsoft after an impressive 17 years as chief communications officer. In a message to his team, he expressed that he’s “decided it is time for me to move on and try new things,” following nearly three decades of supporting Microsoft’s communications—almost 20 years as a direct employee and prior experience at the Waggener Edstrom agency.

Since joining Microsoft in 1997, Shaw has been a key player in the company’s communications strategy, guiding it through numerous Windows and Office launches, CEO changes, the pivotal shift to cloud services, and major acquisitions like LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2 billion and Activision Blizzard in 2023 for $69 billion.

He’s highly regarded in the public relations field, recently earning the top spot on a list of the most influential figures in PR. Within Microsoft, he’s respected by executives for his straightforward yet respectful approach. Many employees have shared that they often feel anxious about receiving an email from him, fearing they might have misspoken or leaked sensitive information.

Shaw has built a reputation for standing up to critics, correcting misinformation, and defending Microsoft’s interests. Notably, in 2013, he took a strong stance against comparisons between Apple’s iWork and Microsoft Office, and he frequently uses social media to dispel rumors or clarify facts about the company. At Microsoft’s 50th anniversary celebration last year, he humorously addressed a series of mean tweets about his PR work.

Having covered Microsoft for over 25 years, I first met Shaw as a teenager eager to dive into blogging. During my time at Neowin, I often posted confidential Microsoft documents or discussed upcoming Windows features before official announcements, which led to some tense encounters with Microsoft’s legal team and even caused Neowin to go offline for a day.

Despite our mutual respect, I’ve had my share of disagreements with Shaw over the years, resulting in some passionate debates. To this day, when I see his name pop up on my phone, I brace myself, knowing it could mean a major announcement or that I’ve ruffled some feathers at Microsoft.

As for what’s next for Shaw, he’s not retiring just yet. He mentioned he plans to take a well-deserved break before pursuing “other things.” Whether that involves PR for an AI startup or perhaps even baking sourdough bread professionally remains a mystery, as he’s keeping those plans under wraps.

Microsoft hasn’t announced a successor for Shaw yet, as he will remain with the company until the end of the year. In his note to the team, he stated, “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.”

Here’s Shaw’s full internal memo to his communications team:
> (don’t bury the lede)
> 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 <link>
> (start burying)
> 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. ????
> fxs