By: Linda Rosencrance
Microsoft has named Kevin Scott to the newly created role of chief technology officer (CTO), expanding his new role as LinkedIn’s senior vice president of Infrastructure. Microsoft completed its $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn in December.
As CTO, Scott, who reports directly to CEO Satya Nadella, will drive strategic, cross-company initiatives to enhance Microsoft’s impact with members and customers, according to company officials.
“We are thrilled that Kevin will bring to Microsoft his unique expertise developing platforms and services that empower people and organizations,” Nadella stated. “Kevin’s first area of focus is to bring together the world’s leading professional network and professional cloud.”
Scott, who began his career at LinkedIn in 2011, will continue to play an active role in the company and remain a member of its executive management team. While at LinkedIn, Scott helped build LinkedIn’s technology and technology team and led it through an IPO and six years of rapid growth, according to his bio.
Before working as LinkedIn’s senior vice president of engineering and operation, Scott held a number of engineering leadership roles at Google and AdMob. Scott is also an adviser to several Silicon Valley startups, an active angel investor and founder of the nonprofit organization Behind the Tech, company officials stated.
Scott is the co-inventor on several patents in the area of search and information extraction. He is also the author or co-author of several publications on dynamic binary rewriting, according to officials.
“The thing that gets me up in the morning and that has always excited me about technology is its role in empowering people and helping to enrich their lives,” Scott stated. “I am very optimistic about where Microsoft is headed and how we can continue to use technology to solve some of society’s most important challenges.”