Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer Chris Capossela is leaving the company

Today, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Capossela, announced that he is leaving the company after 32 years. As Microsoft’s CMO, Chris was running the worldwide marketing across both the consumer and commercial businesses, which includes product marketing, business planning, brand, advertising, events, media buying, communications and market research for Microsoft products and services. He also led digital direct sales and retail partner sales for all Microsoft products.

Due to this departure, Microsoft is promoting Takeshi Numoto to Chief Marketing Officer and Yusuf Mehdi to Consumer Chief Marketing Officer. Also, Microsoft is adding Yusuf Mehdi to the Senior Leadership Team.

Chris Capossela wrote the following on LinkedIn announcing his departure from Microsoft:

I couldn’t be happier for Takeshi and Yusuf, and I’m so grateful for my own 32 years of working at this wonderful company. I’ve been shaped by the amazing Microsoft employees, customers, and partners with whom I’ve had the privilege to work with and learn from. The opportunity to spend so many years at Microsoft, work with Satya as CEO, and turn the company into a Cloud and AI powerhouse is an amazing gift that I don’t take for granted.

Microsoft has literally opened the world to me, allowing me to travel from Accra to Zagreb, while working on every product from Azure to Xbox. The memories of my time at the company will always remain dear to me. And I’m excited for the impact Takeshi, Yusuf and the marketing team will have in empowering every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. In the short term, I’m focused on supporting Takeshi’s and Yusuf’s transitions into their new roles, and looking ahead, I’m excited to figure out the next chapter of my life.

Yusuf Mehdi commented the following on Chris’ LinkedIn post:

Congratulations on an incredible career and thank you for all you have done for Microsoft, Chris! Excited to see what you do next! I’ll never forget the story of you lugging those demo machines around the world for Bill. I am sure that’s what’s in those cases 🙂

Under Chris Capossela’s leadership, Microsoft launched several hugely successful marketing campaigns around the world. I’m sure Microsoft will be missing his experience in the marketing department.