Kurt DelBene, the former Microsoft Office Division president, is returning to the Redmond company.
Microsoft just announced the news. DelBene will be executive vice president of corporate strategy and planning, serving on the company’s senior leadership team and reporting to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
DelBene left in 2013 to work as a senior advisor to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, appointed by President Obama to help mop up the problems with the Healthcare.gov web portal. More recently, DelBene was a venture partner at Seattle’s Madrona Venture Group.
“Kurt brings extensive background in business strategy, engineering and customer solutions, as well as a proven track record of delivering strong results in complex environments,” Nadella said in a statement. “His experience at Microsoft, recent work on healthcare.gov, and work with startups here in Seattle give him a unique perspective for this new role.”
Microsoft says DelBene will lead both cross-engineering and cross-business strategy and execution initiatives with an emphasis on opportunities that span product and engineering boundaries.”
The company adds, “In this role, he will focus on identifying future investments and opportunities; working with other senior executives to ensure end-to-end execution; and assisting the CEO in communicating, executing and sustaining strategic initiatives.”
In a statement, Madrona managing director Matt McIlwain called DelBene “one of those rare people who can relate both to early-stage entrepreneurs in a compelling way and also help shape the strategy and transformation of one of the world’s largest and most important technology companies.”
McIlwain adds, “We are grateful for the time Kurt spent learning from and adding value to Madrona and the innovation ecosystem and we look forward to being a resource to him and the Microsoft leadership team in the years ahead.”
DelBene, the husband of U.S. Rep Suzan DelBene, a former Microsoft exec herself, says he’s excited to rejoin the company. “My time in Washington and in working with startups has brought a fresh appreciation for the challenges our industry faces, and the ways Microsoft has the talent and ambition to tackle these challenges in creative ways.”
