Technology
LinkedIn and Microsoft executive Ryan Roslansky steps down after 18 years
The former LinkedIn CEO, who was tapped to lead Microsoft's Office and Teams divisions, is departing the company due to personal relocation concerns.
The Verge
Ryan Roslansky is exiting Microsoft after nearly two decades with the company, triggering another round of leadership changes within the tech giant. Roslansky had recently overseen both Office and Microsoft Teams following his tenure as LinkedIn's chief executive.
His Microsoft journey#
Roslansky joined LinkedIn in 2009 as its first hire and became CEO in 2020. After Microsoft's acquisition of LinkedIn, Satya Nadella promoted him to lead the Office division last year, then gave him additional responsibilities over Microsoft Teams earlier in 2026.
During his year overseeing Office, Roslansky's teams worked on integrating AI capabilities across Microsoft's productivity suite. His departure comes just days after Microsoft unveiled its new Copilot offering positioned as "the OS for work."
Why he's leaving#
In his memo to staff, Roslansky revealed that the role's demands conflicted with his personal circumstances. Nadella's position required him to relocate permanently to Microsoft's Redmond headquarters full time, something Roslansky determined he couldn't commit to while keeping his family rooted in California's Bay Area. "My life and my family's life are here in the Bay Area," he explained, noting his wife's community involvement and his youngest daughter's recent transition to high school.
The organizational reshuffle#
Microsoft is consolidating Office and Teams leadership under Charles Lamanna within the company's Copilot, Agents, and Platform (CAP) organization. This marks the second major restructuring of these teams this year—earlier changes followed the retirement of Rajesh Jha.
Additionally, Jon Friedman, Microsoft's chief design officer, will now report to Jacob Andreou, who leads the Copilot division. Dan Shapero, appointed LinkedIn CEO earlier in 2026, remains in that position and will continue reporting directly to Nadella.
Perspective on AI and work#
Roslansky had recently cautioned against over-reliance on generative AI in the workplace. A month before his departure, he described fully AI-generated documents as a potential "doom loop" for workers, warning that unchecked automation could create "a very expensive way to avoid writing and reading in an ocean of sameness."
