Microsoft Global Senior vice President Zhang for personal reasons

According to the South China Morning Post, Microsoft's senior vice president and Asian Research and Development Group chairman, Zhang, is about to resign to join Baidu after Microsoft officially confirmed Zhang's departure for personal reasons. The successor is yet to be announced. This is the appointment of Andrew Ng as the chief scientist, Baidu has another heavyweight digging angle.

According to Microsoft's official introduction: Zhang is Microsoft (MSRA) founder. 2000 replaced Kai-Fu Lee became MSRA in charge. Msra was selected as the world's most High-profile CS Institute by MIT Tech Review. He founded the Microsoft Asia Engineering Institute (ATC) in 2003, was promoted to Microsoft's senior vice president in 2004, and returned to Microsoft Headquarters to control mobile and embedded products Windows Mobile and Windows CE, leading Microsoft into the market outside the PC's core leader.

Zhang last week attended the "Baidu World" Congress, Baidu vice President Wang Jin in the keynote speech to Zhang, "Baidu and Microsoft for benign competition." Zhang in this conference and several Baidu product team have exchanges, or even said "(Baidu chopsticks search) Such a good product must be mass production."

Zhang's departure occurred in the context of Microsoft's antitrust investigation. The General Administration of commerce and Industry announced last week that Microsoft would provide written explanations within 20 days and respond to issues reported by mainland companies, including the compatibility of Windows and Office software. The South China Morning Post says Zhang will be the vice-president in charge of the new business after entering Baidu, reporting directly to CEO Robin Li.

According to Sina Science and technology news, before leaving the office, Zhang on the matter of leaving an internal question and answer, said that he had considered leaving three years ago. The following is the original question:

1. Why do you choose to leave Microsoft?

Zhang: The reason is simple: mission achieved. Looking back 16 ago, one of the reasons Microsoft's job attracts me is that Bill Gates wants to build a world-class basic research institution in China-at a time when the idea of Microsoft was considered inconceivable by many American peers, since the domestic information industry was just beginning and the economy was not as developed and active as it is today, So most multinationals will see China as a potential market, and they will think that it is not the time to transplant mature research mechanisms and innovative processes into China. But Microsoft's attempt was later proven to be successful and visionary.

I am very fortunate to be involved in the construction of Microsoft and the entire Microsoft Asia Pacific Research and Development Group. Because at that time my ideal is to be able to return to China to work, can do some real to the company, to China, to the new generation of people to help. This ideal is summed up in eight words, "China Zhi, Hui and the world".

Today, my mission and my goals have been achieved.

First of all, from basic research, technology incubation to product development and industrial cooperation, in China to establish Microsoft's largest and most functional outside the United States research and development system.

Second, the innovation power from China is playing a growing role in Microsoft's future--Microsoft's Asia Pacific Research and Development Group for Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, SQL Server, Office, Bing, Windows, Surface, Microsoft's full range of products, including Xbox, Kinect and Windows Phone, have made a great contribution.

Finally, over the past 16 years, Microsoft's research and development team in Zhongguancun, Beijing, has almost become the Huangpu Military Academy of China's IT industry. We continue to absorb the local elite, and the introduction of overseas experts, training a group of people, teams and leaders. Look at the current active in China's Internet market, those leaders of enterprises, Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Millet, Jinshan Research and development team, have Microsoft's former employees figure. This is also Microsoft's contribution to China.

I have never been a complacent person, and have been busy for the past 16 years, so there is no reason to unload the burden. But since the original mission has been achieved, I think it is time for me to start a new exploration.

2. When did you make the decision to "leave"?

Zhang: In fact, three years ago, I was wondering if it was time to leave under the circumstances of the research and Development group, to do something different that I personally am interested in. I talked to Ballmer at that time, but the reason for not being able to walk was that there were still some work to do with my colleagues. Until this year, Microsoft Microsoft Azure, Office 365, Xbox and other products and services have successfully landed in China, Microsoft Open Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. was founded, Microsoft's VC accelerator in China successfully advanced, 2014 was also named one of the best incubators in China, and has hatched for China's IT industry 88 excellent companies, I have submitted a resignation to the headquarters.

We have a very good and dynamic team, many of whom are involved in the Microsoft Research and development in China to create and develop an important stage, to promote technology research and development, local innovation, industrial cooperation has made great contributions. I am confident of such a team and the future of Microsoft's Asia-Pacific Research and Development Group.

3. What do you think of Microsoft's company when you leave?

Zhang: Microsoft is a great company that has made outstanding contributions in promoting the world's information technology development, enhancing the level of productivity, and innovating the digital life experience for millions of users. Microsoft has the leading technology, talent and products, will be mobile first, cloud First world, for everyone in the world, each enterprise to give stronger impetus. I believe that under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft will enter another glorious stage of development.

I am deeply indebted to Microsoft.

First, for me, Microsoft is like the alma mater. The feelings of Microsoft and the feelings of China class is very similar, I hope the alma mater is getting better.

Second, I am grateful to Microsoft both from the past 16 years the company has given me the respect and space, but also from the company's sincerity and contribution to China.

Thirdly, I believe that the companies and enterprises that are evergreen will not deviate from the change of the founders or leaders, and they can only go on firmly.

4. What is the company's successor to the chairmanship of Microsoft Asia-Pacific Research and Development Group after you retire?

Zhang: As far as I know, the company is currently conducting internal communication and discussion, and has the Microsoft Asia-Pacific Research and Development Group chairman of the successor candidate, but choose who to relay, what management system and when to release, to respect the company's top decisions.

5, finally, can you reveal the whereabouts of Microsoft after you leave?

Zhang: I'll let you know the first time. But my ideals and career will still be in China, in the High-tech industry.