Microsoft's Office Head Rajesh Jha Retires After 35 Years

• Jha joined Microsoft in 1990 and led teams responsible for Office products, Windows, Surface devices, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot AI integration with OpenAI and Anthropic models
• Microsoft 365 commercial cloud revenue grew 17% in the December quarter and accounted for over 30% of total company sales, while Windows and Devices represented less than 6% of revenue
• The departure follows the recent retirement of Microsoft's longtime gaming chief and comes as the company announced a new $99 per month premium Microsoft 365 subscription with Copilot

Microsoft Office Head Rajesh Jha Retires After 35-Year Tenure

Microsoft announced Thursday that Rajesh Jha, executive vice president overseeing Office and one of its most senior leaders, will retire in July after more than 35 years with the company. Jha joined Microsoft in 1990 and has led one of the company's largest engineering teams.

Leadership Restructuring:

Four executives from Jha's Experiences and Devices organization will now report directly to CEO Satya Nadella:

• Pavan Davuluri (Surface devices and Windows)
• Charles Lamanna (business and industry Copilot president)
• Perry Clarke (Microsoft 365 Core president)
• Ryan Roslansky

Additionally, Jeff Teper, a 34-year veteran leading Microsoft 365 collaborative apps, is being promoted to executive vice president. Two other Office executives, Sumit Chauhan and Kirk Koenigsbauer, are receiving president titles.

Market Context:

The departure represents a significant loss as Microsoft competes in the generative AI space with Anthropic and OpenAI. Under Jha's leadership, Microsoft integrated AI models from both startups into its 365 Copilot add-on. The timing follows the recent retirement of Microsoft's longtime gaming chief.

Financial Performance:

Microsoft 365 commercial cloud revenue grew 17% in the December quarter, representing over 30% of total company sales. In contrast, the Windows and Devices segment declined slightly, accounting for less than 6% of revenue.

Microsoft recently announced a premium $99 monthly subscription tier including Copilot, signaling continued AI integration efforts. CEO Nadella praised Jha as among the "pantheon of leaders who have truly shaped this company," emphasizing continuity in Copilot and cybersecurity initiatives during the transition.