Microsoft names CEO Satya Nadella as chairman

The top-level executive change comes just over a year after Bill Gates stepped down from the board

Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, during a tech summit in Bengaluru. File photo

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Microsoft Corp on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, named Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella as its new chairman, in place of John Thompson.

Mr. Nadella, who took over as CEO in 2014 from Steve Ballmer, has been instrumental in scaling up its business including billion-dollar acquisitions like

LinkedIn ,

Nuance Communications and ZeniMax.

The company said Thompson, who took over as chairman from the software giant's

co-founder Bill Gates in 2014, will serve as lead independent director.

The top-level executive change comes just over a year after Mr. Gates stepped down from the board, saying he would focus on philanthropic works of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's biggest charities.

Bill Gates' leadership roles stay intact despite allegations

The company had last month said it conducted a probe into Mr. Gates' involvement with an employee almost 20 years ago after it was told in 2019 that he had tried to start a romantic relationship with the person.

Microsoft had declined to comment on whether its board had decided Mr. Gates should go.

The company also declared a quarterly dividend of 56 cents per share payable Sept. 9.