# Microsoft Names Carolina Dybeck Happe as New Chief Operations Officer
Microsoft has selected Carolina Dybeck Happe, the former chief financial officer of General Electric (GE), as its new executive vice president and chief operations officer. This appointment comes as Microsoft aims to position itself strategically to take advantage of the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI).
Carolina Dybeck Happe will join Microsoft’s senior leadership team and report directly to CEO Satya Nadella, according to an internal memo released by Nadella. In the memo, Nadella praised Dybeck Happe’s leadership qualities, citing her successful role in leading GE’s remarkable turnaround. He also highlighted her ability to drive transformative change and enhance the customer experience.
Under Dybeck Happe’s leadership, GE underwent a significant manufacturing overhaul and executed strategic asset sales, ultimately transforming the company into three separate publicly traded entities. This repositioning prevented GE from facing bankruptcy, ensuring its survival as a viable conglomerate.
In her new role at Microsoft, Dybeck Happe will collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to drive continuous business process improvement across all organizational units. Additionally, she will play a crucial role in accelerating Microsoft’s enterprise-wide AI transformation, ultimately delivering greater value to customers and partners.
It is worth noting that Microsoft has not had an executive with the COO title since the departure of Kevin Turner in 2016. Dybeck Happe’s appointment signifies the creation of a new role within the company. Unlike Turner’s emphasis on sales and competitive positioning, Dybeck Happe’s responsibilities will focus on driving operational efficiency and enabling AI-driven innovation throughout Microsoft.
Carolina Dybeck Happe had previously announced her decision to leave GE. She recently purchased a home in the Seattle region, further signaling her transition to Microsoft. Prior to her tenure at GE, Dybeck Happe held financial leadership positions at prominent companies, including A.P. Moller – Maersk and ASSA ABLOY Group in Sweden and Denmark.
As part of her new role, Dybeck Happe will oversee several critical divisions within Microsoft: the Commerce + Ecosystems organization in Cloud + AI, the Microsoft Digital organization in Experiences + Devices, and the Microsoft Business Operations organization in the finance division.
Overall, Dybeck Happe’s appointment represents Microsoft’s commitment to effective leadership and strategic growth. With her extensive financial background and track record of driving transformation, she is poised to make a significant impact on Microsoft’s operations and the company’s ongoing AI revolution.
