Hyberabad-born techie Satya Nadella named Microsoft CEO; Bill Gates quits as Chairman

New York: India-born Satya Nadella was on Tuesday named by Microsoft as the new CEO of the 78 billion USD tech giant and the company veteran vowed to 'ruthlessly' remove any obstacles to innovation in the world's largest software firm.

Meanwhile, founder Bill Gates has stepped down as chairman to become a technology adviser to the firm.

46-year-old Nadella, who takes over as the third CEO of the Redmond-based firm, called his appointment 'humbling' and attributed his leadership capabilities to playing cricket.

A native of Hyderabad, Nadella is the first Indian to head the iconic firm in its 38-year history, ending months of speculation as to who would succeed the retiring Steve Balmer. Nadella, along with Google's Sundar Pichai, were among the contenders.

Read here: Neighbours gather at Nadella's Hyderabad home

A cricket enthusiast, Nadella, who had joined Microsoft in 1992, previously served as the Executive Vice President of Cloud and Enterprise Group. He led the creation of Microsoft's Internet-based, or 'cloud', computing services.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, currently Chairman, will don a new hat of technology adviser and retain a seat on the board, the company said in a statement.

John Thompson, who is currently lead independent director, will succeed Gates as Chairman.

"As Satya Nadella becomes the third CEO of Microsoft, he brings a relentless drive for innovation and a spirit of collaboration to this new role," Microsoft said in a statement announcing Nadella's appointment.

Nadella, in a videotaped statement, said, "The first thing I want to do and focus on is ruthlessly remove any obstacles that allow us to innovate. And then focus all that innovation on things that Microsoft can uniquely do."

In an email to employees on first day as CEO, Nadella also paraphrased a quote from Oscar Wilde - "We need to believe in the impossible and remove the improbable".

Praising 'Satya' as a 'proven leader' with hard-core engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together, Gates said, "During this time of transformation, there is no better person to lead Microsoft than Satya Nadella."

With his appointment, Nadella joins a select group of India-origin executives steering top global companies.

Among the prominent Indians at the helm include PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Indra Nooyi, MasterCard president and chief executive officer Ajay Banga and Deutsche Bank Co-CEO Anshu Jain.

Nadella attributed his rise to the top to cricket.

"I think playiong cricket taught me more about working in teams and leadership that has stayed with me throughout my career," he said.

Nadella earned degrees from Mangalore University, the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and the University of Chicago.

Bill Gates 'will devote more time to the company' in his new role on the board with the board as 'founder and technology advisor', a company statement said.

In August last year, while launching its search for a new CEO, its then chief executive Steve Ballmer had said he will step down in the next 12 months.

Next: Cricket buff, technocrat, Nadella wears many a hat

Cricket buff, technocrat, Nadella wears many a hat

New York: A cricket buff and poetry loving electrical engineer from Hyderabad Satya Nadella is the next occupant of the Microsoft corner office in Redmond from where Bill Gates built his software empire.

Nadella joined Microsoft, the world's largest software company, over two decades ago. He is the only third CEO after Gates and Steve Ballmer in the 38-year old history of USD 78 billion company.

His friends and family describe him as humble, nice, and a leader with a vision.

Hailing from Hyderabad, a land which produced cricketing heroes like M L Jaisimha, Mohd Azharuddin and V.V.S. Laxman, Nadella's passion for the gentleman's game is not surprising. He says cricket taught him teamwork and leadership that helped him rise through the twists and turns of the corporate world and head of the

"I think playing cricket taught me more about working in teams and leadership that has stayed with me throughout my career," Nadella said after his appointment as Microsoft CEO was announced. Nadella played cricket as part of Hyderabad Public School team.

Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen and billionaire investor and Chairman of Fairfax Holdings Prem Watsa studied in the same school. Nadella later went to the Mangalore University for Bachelor's in electrical engineering.

He has two Master's degree in computer science and business administration from the University of Wisconsin and University of Chicago.

And one gets to know his zest for learning when he says: "I used to fly to Chicago Friday nights, attend classes Saturdays and come back to Redmond to work during the week."

It took him two-and-a-half years, but he finished his master’s degree. Nadella, who joined Microsoft in 1992, previously served as the Executive Vice President of Cloud and Enterprise Group.

Before joining Microsoft, Nadella was a member of the technology staff at Sun Microsystems.

Commenting on Nadella's elevation to the top job, India's largest software services exporter Tata Consultancy Services CEO N. Chandrasekaran told PTI: "The world is at the cusp of a massive digital transformation."

He further said: "It is a wonderful time for Satya to take over at the helm of a leading technology company like Microsoft. It is a proud moment and I wish Satya all success."

In the past, TCS has worked with Microsoft as part of a joint venture in China for establishing a currency trading system. Son of B N Yugandhar, a 1962 batch IAS officer, Nadella is married to his high school sweetheart, Anupama V Nadella. He finds reading poetries of Indian and American poets relaxing.

Nadella says: I'm a learner. I think the thing that I realised is, what excites me is that I'm learning something... I fundamentally believe that if you are not learning new things, you stop doing great and useful things."

"Just crazy ambitions in the 15 minutes I have in the morning. You know, I'm trying to listen to a neuroscience class or something. I kind of ask myself, why are you doing it? But I love it," he says.

Soon after Nadella's appointment was made official, micro blogging site Twitter and social networking platform Facebook were abuzz with comments.

Nadella's last tweet dates back to 2010, but his profile on Twitter has been updated.

Wishes also poured in from friends in Hyderabad for the relatively unknown Nadella.

One of his classmates from Hyderabad Public School (HPS), Faiz Khan, who is also the Secretary of the HPS Society, said that a special assembly of students would be convened on Wednesday to share the joy.

Another classmate M. Chandrasekhar said that he felt very proud of Satya Nadella. B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, who is the Chairman and Managing Director of Infotech Enterprises, said it proves the point that people with merit and put in hard work are successful.