Satya Nadella

Technology executive · Business executive · Engineer

b. 1967 · Born in Hyderabad, India · 3 min read

Verified: 13 November 2026
Sources: 4
Independently reviewed

Photo: Brian Smale and Microsoft / Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA 4.0

Indian-born American executive who has been Microsoft's chairman and CEO since 2014, leading its shift to cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Early Life

Satya Narayana Nadella was born on 19 August 1967 in Hyderabad, India. He attended Hyderabad Public School and earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University in 1988. He then moved to the United States, where he earned a master's degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Education

Nadella earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University in 1988, a master's degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Career

Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992 after working on the technology staff at Sun Microsystems. At Microsoft he held leadership roles across enterprise and consumer businesses, including work on the company's online services and its server and tools division. He became executive vice president of the Cloud and Enterprise group, leading the development of the Azure cloud platform. On 4 February 2014 he was named chief executive of Microsoft, succeeding Steve Ballmer. In June 2021 he was also appointed chairman of the board, succeeding John W. Thompson. Under his leadership Microsoft expanded in cloud computing and artificial intelligence, completed the acquisitions of LinkedIn (2016), GitHub (2018) and Activision Blizzard (2023), and grew its enterprise software, gaming and cloud businesses.

Achievements

Nadella's central achievement is the transformation of Microsoft under his leadership. He became chief executive on 4 February 2014, the third person to hold the role after Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, and chairman in 2021. He moved the company decisively toward cloud computing, building Azure into one of the world's largest cloud platforms, and toward artificial intelligence, including a major partnership with OpenAI. He oversaw the acquisitions of LinkedIn in 2016, GitHub in 2018 and Activision Blizzard in 2023. In 2017 he co-authored Hit Refresh, a book setting out his approach to renewing Microsoft's culture around learning, empathy and a growth mindset.

Became chief executive of Microsoft on 4 February 2014, the third person to hold the role, and chairman of the board in 2021
Led Microsoft's shift to cloud computing, building Azure into one of the world's largest cloud platforms
Oversaw the acquisitions of LinkedIn (2016), GitHub (2018) and Activision Blizzard (2023)
Co-authored Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone (2017)
Led Microsoft's expansion in artificial intelligence, including its partnership with OpenAI

Legacy

Nadella is credited with reviving Microsoft after a period in which the company was widely seen as having missed the mobile and cloud shifts. His 'mobile-first, cloud-first' strategy, and later his focus on artificial intelligence, returned Microsoft to the centre of the technology industry. His leadership style, emphasising empathy, learning and inclusion, is widely discussed in business writing and is the subject of his book Hit Refresh. Because he is a living person whose company and public roles change frequently, this profile records only documented milestones and will need regular updating from reliable sources.

Contributions

Nadella's work joined engineering leadership with a cultural change at Microsoft. He built the Azure cloud platform into a core business, moved Microsoft's software toward subscription and cloud services, and made artificial intelligence a central part of the company's strategy through investment and partnership.

Notable Works

Microsoft Azure (cloud platform lead)
Microsoft (chairman and chief executive from 2014)
Hit Refresh (2017, co-author)
LinkedIn acquisition (2016)
GitHub acquisition (2018)
Activision Blizzard acquisition (2023)

Milestones

1967 — Born on 19 August in Hyderabad, India Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
1988 — Earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
1992 — Joined Microsoft after working at Sun Microsystems Source: Microsoft; Encyclopaedia Britannica
2014 — Named chief executive of Microsoft, the third person to hold the role Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Microsoft
2016 — Microsoft acquired LinkedIn Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)
2017 — Co-authored Hit Refresh Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
2018 — Microsoft acquired GitHub Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)
2021 — Appointed chairman of Microsoft's board Source: Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)
2023 — Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)

Timeline

19 August 1967
Born in Hyderabad, India
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
1988
Earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Mangalore University
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
1992
Joined Microsoft after working at Sun Microsystems
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Microsoft; Encyclopaedia Britannica
4 February 2014
Named chief executive of Microsoft, the third person to hold the role
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Microsoft
2016
Microsoft acquired LinkedIn
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)
2017
Co-authored Hit Refresh, a book on renewing Microsoft's culture and strategy
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
2018
Microsoft acquired GitHub
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)
2021-06
Appointed chairman of Microsoft's board
Approximate date Source: Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)
2023
Microsoft completed the acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Year only — exact date unknown Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Satya Nadella?

Satya Nadella was born on 19 August 1967 in Hyderabad, India, so Nadella is 59 years old as of November 2026. Nadella's age changes every year on 19 August. He has been Microsoft's chairman and CEO since 2014, leading its shift to cloud computing.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica

Who is Satya Nadella?

Nadella is an Indian-American business executive who has been the chairman and chief executive of Microsoft since 2014. He co-authored Hit Refresh (2017), about renewing Microsoft's culture and strategy. He led Microsoft's shift to cloud computing, building Azure into one of the world's largest cloud platforms.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica ; Microsoft

What did Satya Nadella do before becoming Microsoft CEO?

Nadella joined Microsoft in 1992. He worked on online services and the server and tools division, then became executive vice president of the Cloud and Enterprise group, where he led the development of the Azure cloud platform, before being named chief executive in 2014.

Source: Microsoft; Encyclopaedia Britannica

Which companies did Microsoft acquire under Nadella?

Under Nadella, Microsoft acquired the professional network LinkedIn in 2016, the software-development platform GitHub in 2018, and the games company Activision Blizzard in 2023. He led Microsoft's shift to cloud computing, building Azure into one of the world's largest cloud platforms.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica ; Wikipedia (Satya Nadella)

What is Hit Refresh?

Hit Refresh (2017) is Nadella's book about his career and the transformation of Microsoft's culture. It describes his 'mobile-first, cloud-first' strategy and his focus on artificial intelligence. Nadella became chief executive of Microsoft on 4 February 2014, succeeding Steve Ballmer.