Microsoft announced its third CEO in the company’s 38-year history today. Satya Nadella succeeds Steve Ballmer and takes over immediately with a focus on “cloud and mobile first.” While the trio of Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, and Satya Nadella have been busy with today’s announcement, they took some time out today to stand on stage together and address more than 100,000 Microsoft employees.
Watch this: Microsoft’s three CEOs on stage together
is a senior correspondent and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.
Microsoft's CEOs played to a Windows Phone crowd
In a brief video posted by Microsoft, Gates remarks that the company has only ever had three CEOs before the assembled Microsoft employees cheer and applaud them while Ballmer pats his successor, Nadella, on the back. Ballmer might be departing today, but he appears to be his usual excitable self, clapping and cheering at a brief mention of the recent Seahawks Super Bowl victory. The vast majority of Microsoft workers in the audience are using Windows Phones, so even though Ballmer was in high spirits it's unlikely he was doing any iPhone snatching today.
Satya Nadella also addressed Microsoft’s employees alone. Another brief video contains some additional remarks, encouraging Microsoft workers to help the company win in mobile and cloud. “It’s really our collective challenge that we now need to make Microsoft thrive in a mobile first and a cloud first world,” says Nadella. “That’s the core challenge that we collectively have to face up to, and I cannot be more honored, more humbled, and more excited about Microsoft and our opportunity.”
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