“Microsoft is thriving,” said CEO and chairman Satya Nadella in a new statement following a round of layoffs earlier this month that cost 9000 employees their jobs.
The statement, shared publicly and with Microsoft employees, reiterates the company mission, with Nadella doubling down on the importance of AI.
First, he acknowledged the layoffs. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who have left,” he said. “Their contributions have shaped who we are as a company, helping build the foundation we stand on today. And for that, I am deeply grateful.”
He continued: “I also want to acknowledge the uncertainty and seeming incongruence of the times we’re in. By every objective measure, Microsoft is thriving – our market performance, strategic positioning, and growth all point up and to the right. We’re investing more in CapEx than ever before. Our overall headcount is relatively unchanged, and some of the talent and expertise in our industry and at Microsoft is being recognised and rewarded at levels never seen before. And yet, at the same time, we’ve undergone layoffs.