Microsoft confirms departure of senior execs

Two of Microsoft's top executives, Tami Reller and Tony Bates, will leave the company, the software giant confirmed today.

Tami Reller.

Reller, who was appointed just eight months ago as the executive vice-president of marketing at Microsoft by then-chief executive Steve Ballmer, will be replaced by Chris Caposela from the company's Consumer Channels Group.

As part of the marketing department reshuffle, incoming chief executive Satya Nadella has created a chief strategy officer role to be filled by Mark Penn.

Penn is the former global chief executive of public relations firm Burston-Marsteller and has worked with well-known politicians such as Bill and Hillary Clinton and Tony Blair, as well as Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Nadella said Penn will bring "a blend of data analysis and creativity" to the marketing job.

The former chief executive of Skype, Tony Bates, will also step down, with Eric Rudder to warm his seat temporarily while a replacement is sought.

Rudder is a former chief technical strategy officer at Microsoft and now runs the company's Advanced Technology department.

In a message to staff, Nadella said he asked the senior leadership team for their "all in" commitment to the company.

He compared the senior leadership team to a team of rowers, saying it had to find the swing of the boat to become a winning crew, working in unison.