Microsoft names Brad Smith as its new President and chief legal officer

Microsoft has made a small, but still interesting, shift in its executive team. It has promoted its long-time general counsel Brad Smith, giving him the new title of President and chief legal officer for the company.

Smith's new role is the first time anyone at Microsoft has held the company title of President since 2002, when Rick Beluzzo left the company. Smith joined Microsoft in 1993 and was named as the company's general counsel in 2002. In 2011, Smith got promoted to executive vice president of legal and corporate affairs.

Bloomberg reports that Smith's appointment was first revealed in a company-wide email by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. He stated that as part of Smith's new role as President, he will be "strengthening our external relationships and representing the company publicly." Smith will also work on Microsoft's efforts in security, environmental sustainability and more.

Source: Microsoft; Via: Bloomberg