Microsoft’s head of comms is leaving after almost 20 years

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="Frank Shaw in 2025. | Image: Microsoft" data-portal-copyright="Image: Microsoft" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/frankshaw.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> Frank Shaw in 2025. | Image: Microsoft </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Frank Shaw is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7504207334592638976/">leaving Microsoft</a> after 17 years as chief communications officer. In an internal note to his team, Shaw says he's "decided it is time for me to move on and try new things," after supporting Microsoft's communications for 29 years - nearly 20 years as a Microsoft employee plus time at the Waggener Edstrom agency (now We. Communications) before that.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shaw has been at the heart of Microsoft's communications since 1997, helping the company navigate multiple Windows and Office releases, CEO transitions, the all-important bet on cloud, and huge acquisitions like the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/13/11920072/microsoft-linkedin-acquisition-2016">$26.2 billion LinkedIn purchase</a> in 2016 and the $69 billion <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/13/23791235/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-complete-finalized">acquisi …</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/news/993791/microsoft-frank-shaw-leaving-head-of-comms">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>