Frank Shaw, Microsoft's chief communications officer, is leaving the company after 17 years in the role and nearly 29 years working with Microsoft in total, including earlier time at PR agency Waggener Edstrom. His departure marks the end of an era for Microsoft's public relations operation, as Shaw has been a central, widely respected figure shaping how the company communicates through major product launches, leadership changes and its shift to the cloud.

Shaw joined Microsoft in 1997 and helped steer communications through numerous Windows and Office releases, several CEO transitions, and landmark deals including the $26.2 billion (£20.6 billion) LinkedIn acquisition in 2016 and the $69 billion (£54.4 billion) purchase of Activision Blizzard in 2023. He was recently ranked number one on PRWeek's 2026 list of the most powerful people in PR, and is known both internally and externally for a direct but respectful style, often defending Microsoft publicly against critics and inaccurate reporting. He will remain in post until the end of the year while Microsoft decides on next steps, with no replacement named yet; Shaw says he plans to take a break before pursuing unspecified "other things".