In first live comments as Microsoft's CEO, Nadella doesn't offer specifics but pledges to listen carefully to customers, partners and investors. February 4, 2014 12:45 PM PST Satya Nadella in webcast on first day as Microsoft CEO. (Credit: Microsoft) Only a few hours on the job as a chief executive, Satya Nadella showed he can talk generalities with the best of them. In what was billed as as a webcast for partners and customers, Microsoft's newly-appointed CEO spent about 15 minutes outlining broad contours of a strategy that essentially promised more of the same -- but with an ear close to the ground. Earlier today, Microsoft brought an end to six months of rumors and speculation and announced Nadella's appointment as its next chief executive. As part of the announcement, Bill Gates, who quit as chairman, said he will step up his participation in Microsoft affairs as a "technology advisor" to Nadella. Related stories What the iWatch needs: more than just health Apple will need to address low-end phones, ARM exec says Apple again trounces Samsung in US smartphone wars Apple patent reveals smart charging pad for mobile devices Apple iWatch could trigger sales as high as $17.5B -- analyst Offering a vision of a "people-centric IT," Nadella said Microsoft would strive to create products and services where "the enduser gets the experience they want and IT gets the control that they want." To be fair, few would expect Nadella, who just became one of the most important business executives in the world, to have immediate answers. And if he has specific ideas about how to carry out course corrections, a public forum -- in this case a webcast anyone in the world could access -- was not going to be the setting. Still, he did offer general hints of what a Nadella regime might include. He talked about a "mobile-first, cloud-first" strategy where software would be at the core of everything Microsoft approaches. Again, that's not a departure from the cloud and devices strategy which Steve Ballmer -- and Nadella -- have articulated over the last several months. But this was an appearance to reassure outsiders that Microsoft was carrying out an orderly transition and in keeping his prime audience in mind, Nadella also pledged to "bring new parterships to bear as we approach new scenarios" without going into detail. He said that his "Day 1 priorities" would involve making sure the company was in close touch with "customers, partners and investors." Clearly, the new boss, who will have a lot to sort out, will not need as much time to get up to speed as CEO had brought appointed an outside candidate. All the same, Nadella carefully managed expectations in his cameo as Microsoft's new leader. "I've got lot to learn," Nadella said. "I've spent a lot of time in Microsoft but there will be parts of Microsoft that are new to me."
In first live comments as Microsoft's CEO, Nadella doesn't offer specifics but pledges to listen carefully to customers, partners and investors.
Satya Nadella in webcast on first day as Microsoft CEO.
(Credit: Microsoft)
Only a few hours on the job as a chief executive, Satya Nadella showed he can talk generalities with the best of them. In what was billed as as a webcast for partners and customers, Microsoft's newly-appointed CEO spent about 15 minutes outlining broad contours of a strategy that essentially promised more of the same -- but with an ear close to the ground.
Earlier today, Microsoft brought an end to six months of rumors and speculation and announced Nadella's appointment as its next chief executive. As part of the announcement, Bill Gates, who quit as chairman, said he will step up his participation in Microsoft affairs as a "technology advisor" to Nadella.
Related stories
- What the iWatch needs: more than just health
- Apple will need to address low-end phones, ARM exec says
- Apple again trounces Samsung in US smartphone wars
- Apple patent reveals smart charging pad for mobile devices
- Apple iWatch could trigger sales as high as $17.5B -- analyst
Offering a vision of a "people-centric IT," Nadella said Microsoft would strive to create products and services where "the enduser gets the experience they want and IT gets the control that they want."
To be fair, few would expect Nadella, who just became one of the most important business executives in the world, to have immediate answers. And if he has specific ideas about how to carry out course corrections, a public forum -- in this case a webcast anyone in the world could access -- was not going to be the setting.
Still, he did offer general hints of what a Nadella regime might include. He talked about a "mobile-first, cloud-first" strategy where software would be at the core of everything Microsoft approaches. Again, that's not a departure from the cloud and devices strategy which Steve Ballmer -- and Nadella -- have articulated over the last several months.
But this was an appearance to reassure outsiders that Microsoft was carrying out an orderly transition and in keeping his prime audience in mind, Nadella also pledged to "bring new parterships to bear as we approach new scenarios" without going into detail. He said that his "Day 1 priorities" would involve making sure the company was in close touch with "customers, partners and investors." Clearly, the new boss, who will have a lot to sort out, will not need as much time to get up to speed as CEO had brought appointed an outside candidate.
All the same, Nadella carefully managed expectations in his cameo as Microsoft's new leader.
"I've got lot to learn," Nadella said. "I've spent a lot of time in Microsoft but there will be parts of Microsoft that are new to me."
