14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just announced that a new member has been appointed to its board of directors, with the overall number now increased to 11 persons that are deciding the future of the Redmond-based company.
John W. Stanton, whom Microsoft describes as a pioneer and innovator in the US and global wireless industry, is now a member of the company’s board of directors, joining the other 10 members who include Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Steve Ballmer.
Stanton has already spent years at the helm of several large wireless operators in the United States and was the chairman and CEO of VoiceStream Wireless before it was acquired by Deutsche Telekom and subsequently renamed T-Mobile USA.
In addition to being a Microsoft board member, Stanton is also holding the role of director of Columbia Sportswear Co.
Just like it’s the case of all moments when a new board member joins the company, CEO Satya Nadella says that Stanton is going to play a key role in the firm’s transition to a “mobile-first, cloud-first world,” which is actually the approach that Nadella has promoted ever since he took over from Steve Ballmer earlier this year.
“John’s insights into mobility around the globe and his expertise in working with organizations as CEO and as a board member will be invaluable as we transform Microsoft for growth and leadership in the mobile-first, cloud-first world,” has said Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella.
Of course, Stanton has praised Microsoft in his first public statement as a member of the company’s board, explaining that the firm is going through “a pivotal moment in the company’s history.”
“I’m happy to be joining Microsoft at such a pivotal moment in the company’s history,” Stanton has added. “I know firsthand what an indispensable role Microsoft plays in the technology industry, in the lives of countless people around the world, and in the Puget Sound region, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to help shape Microsoft’s future.”
Here are the other 10 members of Microsoft’s board:
John W. Thompson, Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer of Virtual Instruments Steve Ballmer, former chief executive officer of Microsoft Dina Dublon, former chief financial officer of JPMorgan Chase Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and technology advisor Maria M. Klawe, president, Harvey Mudd College David F. Marquardt, general partner at August Capital G. Mason Morfit, president, ValueAct Capital Satya Nadella, Microsoft chief executive officer Charles H. Noski, former vice chairman of Bank of America Corp. Dr. Helmut Panke, former chairman of the board of management at BMW AG.