Microsoft has announced that Dan Shapero will assume the role of new Chief Executive Officer for its LinkedIn subsidiary, succeeding Ryan Roslansky. Roslansky, who has led the subsidiary since 2020 and took on additional responsibilities within the Microsoft Office division last year, will continue in his role as Executive Vice President at Microsoft. This leadership transition is effective immediately.
In a post on LinkedIn announcing the appointment on Wednesday, Roslansky stated, "Dan has led sales, marketing, and product—covering many of our most critical businesses. He knows our members and customers and lives our mission in a way that is truly rare."
Roslansky joined LinkedIn from Glam Media in 2009 as a product leader and took over the business from Jeff Weiner six years ago. During his six-year tenure, LinkedIn's user base grew from approximately 700 million to 1.3 billion members.
LinkedIn reported an 11% year-over-year increase in revenue for its latest quarter, as the professional social network continues to expand its user base and increase revenue per user. Since Microsoft's acquisition of LinkedIn for $27 billion in 2016, its growth rate has moderated. Meta Platforms, which has a revenue base more than ten times larger than LinkedIn's, reported a revenue increase of nearly 24% in its most recent quarter.
Microsoft has been integrating artificial intelligence features across its Office suite and the LinkedIn platform while making significant investments in data center infrastructure to provide AI computing power for its cloud services customers.
"In a world being reshaped by AI, where every professional and industry must adapt, the power of economic opportunity and LinkedIn's vision are more important than ever," Shapero said in a LinkedIn post. Shapero, who previously managed consulting projects at Bain & Company, joined LinkedIn in 2008 as a general manager.
This executive change comes just weeks after Rajesh Jha, the top executive for Microsoft's Office business, announced his retirement plans. Jha stated that he had worked with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on succession planning and expressed confidence in the future, noting that Roslansky and other Office leaders will report to Nadella.
Earlier this year, Phil Spencer, who led Microsoft's gaming business for 38 years, departed, and Charlie Bell, who was responsible for cybersecurity products, transitioned to an individual contributor role.
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