Microsoft has announced that Satya Nadella has been promoted to the role of CEO, replacing Steve Ballmer as the software giant’s third boss.
Nadella is currently Microsoft’s head of Cloud and Enterprise, which builds and runs the firm’s computing platforms and developer tools.
In August, Mr Ballmer said he would retire within 12 months. Leaders from a range of industries are rumoured to have been considered for the post.
Microsoft also said founder Bill Gates would step down as chairman of the company. Gates will take up a new role as technology adviser.
Microsoft’s lead independent director John Thompson is to take over from Gates as the company’s chairman.
Thompson led the search committee for Microsoft’s new chief executive, and said last year that more than 100 possible candidates had been identified.
Nadella, 44, joined the company in 1992 and has degrees in electronics, computer science and business administration.
He previously headed up its server and tools business before being put in charge of the unit that built Microsoft’s Cloud OS service, which powers products such as Bing, Skype and Xbox Live.
Watch this video from Microsoft, featuring an interview with Nadella here: