Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, Craig Mundie, has moved into a new role as a senior advisor to the firm’s CEO, according to his profile page on the Microsoft website.
The new position means that Mundie will be working on “key strategic projects within the company”, as well as liasing with government and industry figures around the world on technology policy, regulation and standards.
The move, which will have him reporting directly to Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer, will precede Mundie’s retirement in 2014, according to an internal memo seen by AllThingsD.
In the document, which was sent out on December 14, Ballmer reveals that Mundie plans to retire the year after next, once he turns 65. It is understood that the majority of Mundie’s previous duties, which relate to his role as chief research and strategy officer, will fall to Eric Rudder, who is currently the company’s chief technical strategy officer.
Ballmer reportedly said in the email to Microsoft employees:
“Over his career, Craig has brought great value to the groups and initiatives he has started and overseen and now brings that wealth of experience to his new role. Craig has also been instrumental in building relationships with governments and policymakers around the world.”
Mundie, who holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in information theory and computer science from Georgia Tech, has worked at the company since 1992.
At that time, he was hired to create and manage the Consumer Platforms Division, which was used to develop non-PC platforms such as the Windows CE operating system. More recently, however, Mundie oversaw Microsoft Research, one of the world’s largest computer science research organisations, as well as the company’s long-term technology strategy.
Image Credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
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