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Gallot Returns to Microsoft to Lead Security as Bell Takes on Quality Initiative
Microsoft announced a leadership shake-up Wednesday that will see Hayete Gallot return to the company as executive vice president of security, replacing Charlie Bell, who is shifting into a new role focused on Microsoft’s Quality Excellence Initiative.
The leadership changes come as Microsoft continues to prioritize security after facing ongoing scrutiny over high-profile cyberattacks. CEO Satya Nadella announced the moves in an internal memo posted to the company's corporate blog.
Gallot joins Microsoft from Google, where she served as president of customer experience for Google Cloud. Prior to that, she spent more than 15 years at Microsoft in senior leadership roles across engineering and sales, helping build the Windows and Office franchises and playing a key role in designing the company's Security Solution Area.
"Hayete joins us from Google where she was President, Customer Experience for Google Cloud," said Nadella. "Before that, she spent more than 15 years at Microsoft with senior leadership roles across engineering and sales, playing multiple critical roles in building two of our biggest franchises -- Windows and Office, leading our commercial solution areas' go-to-market efforts."
Bell joined Microsoft in 2021 after 23 years at Amazon Web Services, where he held senior management positions. During his tenure at Microsoft, Bell built the Security, Compliance, Identity, and Management organization and helped lead the company's Secure Future Initiative following several security incidents.
The transition has been in planning for some time, according to Nadella, who said Bell expressed a desire to return to individual contributor work rather than organizational leadership.
"Charlie and I have been planning this transition for some time, given his desire to move from being an org leader to being an IC engineer," Nadella wrote. "And I love how energized he is to practice this craft here day in and day out!"
In his new role, Bell will focus on Microsoft's Quality Excellence Initiative, working closely with cloud and AI chief Scott Guthrie and Mala Anand to deliver what the company calls "durable, high quality-experiences at global scale."
Gallot will oversee Microsoft's entire security business, with all existing security leaders now reporting to her. She'll also be accountable for security product rhythms as part of the company's new commercial cohort operating model announced earlier this week.
Ales Holecek, currently chief technology officer for Microsoft's Experiences and Devices Group, will become chief architect for security, reporting to Gallot. Holecek has spent years leading architecture and development across core Microsoft platforms.
The announcement follows Microsoft's recent quarterly earnings call, where the company highlighted momentum in security products, including progress with Security Copilot agents, strong Purview adoption and continued customer growth.
During Bell's time leading security, Microsoft faced fallout from prominent cyberattacks. In 2023, the company disclosed that China-based hackers breached U.S. government officials' email accounts, prompting a critical report from the Department of Homeland Security that cited "a cascade of security failures."
The leadership changes take effect immediately, with both Bell and Gallot reporting directly to Nadella.