Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Satya Nadella has announced a number of promotions among the company’s executives. Perhaps the most high profile one is former Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) CEO Stephen Elop. We’ve known for some time that he would go along to Microsoft with the sale of the company’s devices division, but now we officially know what position he will hold.
Elop to head devices division
Street Insider published an internal memo which Nadella sent to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) employees. It is dated today, and it states that Elop will become the new executive vice president of their devise group. In addition, he said they expect the sale of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V)’s devices division to close by the end of April.
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Nadella said Elop’s background in mobile devices will be good for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT). He also noted that the former Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V) executive also spent some time at Microsoft in the past. He stated that Elop will “partner closely” with the Xbox division while also bringing together “many of the top leaders from his existing Nokia Devices and Services organization as well as the current leaders of the Devices and Studios team.”
Elop will move into his new position along with the effective closing date of the transaction with Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) (BIT:NOK1V) (HEL:NOK1V).
Microsoft promotes Guthrie, Spencer
Nadella also said Phil Spencer will step into “a new role leading Xbox.” This will combine the two development teams for the Xbox and Xbox live. He reports to Terry Myerson, which will “keep gaming close to the group developing operating systems across devices.” Spencer will also lead Xbox Music, Xbox Video and Microsoft Studios.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) also named acting Cloud and Enterprise chief Scott Guthrie as executive vice president of the department. Guthrie has been serving as head of the department since Nadella took over the CEO position at Microsoft.
Shares of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) rose more than 2% in midday trading.