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Tami Reller and Tony Bates.

Two of Microsoft’s top executives, marketing chief Tami Reller and business development boss Tony Bates, are leaving the company, according to a report this afternoon by Re/code.

It isn’t clear where either exec is headed in the short run. Microsoft declined to comment on the report, which said the company planned a Tuesday announcement.

Bates, the former Skype CEO, had been considered a candidate to succeed Steve Ballmer, so his decision not to stick around under new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella isn’t a big surprise. He’ll be replaced temporarily by Eric Rudder, a longtime Microsoft executive.

Reller, who had previously led marketing and finance in the Windows division, will be replaced in the companywide marketing job by another longtime Microsoft executive, Chris Caposella.

In addition, The New York Times reports that Mark Penn, the former aide to President Bill Clinton, will be named chief strategy officer. Penn had served as vice president overseeing advertising, and the Times reports that the appointment gives the political operative “a bigger hand in determining which markets Microsoft should be in and where it should be making further investments.”

Previously on GeekWire: Microsoft devices chief Julie Larson-Green takes on new role, will be replaced by Nokia’s Stephen Elop

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