Microsoft's 35-year veteran and chief marketing officer Yusuf Mehdi to leave the company

Yusuf Mehdi, a 35-year Microsoft veteran who has served as the company's commercial chief marketing officer since 2023, will leave the company following the conclusion of the next fiscal year, according to an internal memo viewed by Business Insider.

Mehdi's farewell memo

"After 35 extraordinary years at Microsoft - years filled with adventure, challenge, reinvention, and innovation - I've decided the time is right to begin planning for my next adventure," Mehdi wrote in the memo.

"I will work through the next fiscal year to help reimagine Windows for the agentic era, grow Microsoft 365 services, and bring our One Copilot vision to life."

In the memo, Mehdi reflected warmly on his three-and-a-half decades at the company, describing Microsoft as "far more than a place to work" and "the canvas for my life's work."

He noted that he had been part of significant shifts in technology over the years, from the rise of Windows and the early internet through to search, gaming, devices and, most recently, the emergence of AI.

"The most meaningful part of this journey has always been the people," he wrote. "The teams I've worked alongside, learned from, built with, and grown with are what have made this experience so special."

Mehdi said his departure was made "in alignment with Satya and Takeshi," and stressed that his final year would be one of full commitment.

"Those of you who know me, know this means I'll be fully engaged, likely more intensely than ever! I've always believed the right way to finish is the same way I've always tried to lead: with urgency, ambition, and a commitment to leave things stronger than I found them."

He concluded: "There will be time later to reflect and celebrate, but for now, it's full speed ahead on our mission. I'm genuinely thrilled about the year ahead and grateful for the opportunity to spend it building alongside the teams here at Microsoft in service of our customers."

Part of a broader AI-era leadership reshuffle

Mehdi, who leads product marketing for Microsoft AI and Copilot, is the latest in a series of senior executives whose roles have shifted as chief executive Satya Nadella presses ahead with his AI-focused transformation of the company.

Microsoft recently elevated Judson Althoff, its long-serving sales chief, to an expanded role as chief executive of the company's commercial business.

It also moved AI chief executive Mustafa Suleyman to its superintelligence team, Business Insider previously reported.