Microsoft Appoints Amy Coleman as New Chief People Officer, Succeeding Kathleen Hogan

Microsoft has announced the appointment of Amy Coleman as its new executive vice president and chief people officer, replacing Kathleen Hogan, who has held the position for the past decade. The transition marks a significant leadership shift within the company’s human resources division.

From left to right; Amy Coleman and Kathleen Hogan of Microsoft

Hogan will continue to serve as an executive vice president, moving into a newly established Office of Strategy and Transformation, an expansion of the Office of the CEO. In this role, she will report directly to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and remain part of the company’s senior leadership team.

Coleman, a longtime Microsoft veteran, steps into her new role with extensive experience. She has been with the company for over 25 years across two separate tenures, initially joining as a compensation manager in 1996. Most recently, she served as corporate vice president for human resources and corporate functions, overseeing a team of 200 HR professionals.

In an internal memo, Nadella praised Coleman’s leadership, stating:

“Amy has led HR for our corporate functions across the company for the past six years, following various HR roles spanning engineering, sales, marketing, and business development. She has been a trusted advisor to both Kathleen and me, orchestrating key company-wide initiatives, shaping our culture, improving employee engagement, and driving our enterprise crisis response.”

Hogan, who joined Microsoft in 2003 after roles at Oracle and McKinsey, has played a pivotal role in reshaping the company’s workplace culture. She championed a growth mindset approach, influenced by psychologist Carol Dweck, and led significant HR reforms, including changes to Microsoft’s performance review system and all-company meetings.

Additionally, Hogan advocated for inclusivity in employee evaluations and improved the company’s handling of internal sexual harassment cases.

Coleman, in her previous role, was instrumental in developing Microsoft’s hybrid work strategy and leading the HR response during the COVID-19 pandemic. As she steps into the chief people officer position, she is expected to continue driving Microsoft’s workplace evolution while focusing on employee experience and corporate culture.