Microsoft clarifies new comms leadership; Netflix is light on details in layoff memo

A few weeks ago, Microsoft announced three major changes to the comms function:

1. Longtime CCO Frank Shaw would be retiring.
2. Vice President for Global Public Affairs Brent Colburn would serve as interim CCO.
3. The function would now report up through President Brad Smith.

We now have details directly from Colburn about what his interim tenure looks like — and why he isn’t in the running for the job permanently. Colburn posted more details in a public LinkedIn post:

‘Interim’ is not a synonym for ‘slowing down,’ and our Communications team has an incredible amount of important work to do before we hit 2027. The team will continue to meet the high bar for excellence that Frank set, and we will look for ways to try new things and experiment with this constantly changing craft of communications. I’m proud to be doing this work alongside the world-class members of our Communications and Public Affairs teams, and I want to thank all of them for the professionalism, commitment, and positive attitude they have brought to this season of change.

Colburn also made it clear why he won’t be the next CCO of the organization: He’d already announced back in August that he’d be returning to the Bay Area to be with his family. He had initially planned to leave in mid-October.

“This new role does delay my return to the Bay Area by a few months, and I want to thank my wife, Nichole, for her support and patience as I take on this unexpected and extended assignment,” he wrote.

While these details may have already been common knowledge within Microsoft and on the comms team, clarifying for the broader organization is a wise move. It helps people understand what this change means, what it doesn’t and what they can expect moving forward.

In a time of major change, like what’s happening in Microsoft’s comms department just now, the more transparency, the better.

Netflix is vague in layoff memo to employees

Netflix announced this week that it would lay off about 1,000 people, or 6% of its workforce. The internal memo to employees hits all the expected notes: thanking departing employees for their service, asking remaining workers to remain focused. But it’s light on details about why the layoffs, why now and what will change. The most they mention is “organizational changes,” according to a copy of the memo obtained by Variety.

For the rest of the team, we know you have questions, too. Our mission — to entertain the world — is ambitious, and delivering on it requires us to be disciplined about where we prioritize our people and resources. Our business is strong and growing, and we remain on track to deliver our full year forecast. We’ll continue to invest aggressively in high impact areas to improve our service and further drive growth and innovation. Doing that means making focused choices across the business so we can keep delivering for our members, partners, employees, and investors.

The memo acknowledges the questions employees have, but doesn’t answer any of them. It does a good job of keeping the focus on the mission and the bottom line, but it doesn’t explain what investment in high-impact areas actually looks like.

Layoffs are scary for those who remain. Details showcasing the plan forward can help assuage those fears. Simply acknowledging them isn’t enough. Employees need a plan and a path forward.

Lessons from Ragan’s Internal Communications Conference

This week, communicators from around the world gathered at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington, to learn, network and have a little fun too.

If you weren’t there, here are a few of the tidbits you missed:

• ‘Don’t outsource your judgment’: Comms leaders on staying sharp in the AI era
• ‘There’s no such thing as internal communications now’: The external blur
• 13 top takeaways from Ragan’s Internal Communications Conference

You can also still join us at the Future of Communications Conference in Austin, Texas this November to enjoy that same camaraderie and learning.

4. How about some good news?

• An 18-year-old in Arizona gave the shoes off his feet to an elderly man.
• A 3,156-pound pumpkin could break the world record for the heaviest pumpkin.
• A rare frog was born in a London Zoo, giving hope to the species.
• Ragan Training is an excellent place for communications professionals to find inspiration and valuable resources.
• You should be rewarded for your work. Find out how to earn an award here!

Allison Carter is editorial director of PR Daily and Ragan.com. Follow her on LinkedIn.