Microsoft's Satya Nadella Named CEO of the Year

Microsoft chairman and CEO Satya Nadella has been voted “CEO of the Year” by CNN. Others who were considered in the running for this year’s accolade included Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (whom readers will likely remember from the recent OpenAI drama that unfolded in November, which also involved Nadella).

Writing for CNN Business, Samantha Murphy Kelly said in the announcement post, “Since 2018, the CNN Business’ team of writers and editors have met at the end of each year to select one person whose executive performance stood out. The process is admittedly subjective — we choose someone based on criteria that shifts year to year.”

It’s hard to argue that Nadella is deserving of the acknowledgement. Under Nadella’s leadership Microsoft has helmed the AI boom, which included a $13 billion investment in ChatGPT developer OpenAI. Thanks in large part to its emergence as a leader in artificial intelligence technology, Microsoft’s stock climbed 55% in 2023. Nadella’s handling of the OpenAI fiasco that ultimately resulted in the rehiring of ousted CEO Sam Altman also played a part in naming him CNN Business’ CEO of the Year.

In an email response to CNN Nadella said,

“There’s no question 2023 was the year of AI. We’re no longer just talking about innovation in the abstract; we’re seeing real product-making, deployment and productivity gains. At the end of the day, though, this innovation will only be useful if it’s empowering all of us in our careers, in our communities, in our countries.”

Former recipients of CNN’s “CEO of the Year” include Albert Bourla of Pfizer and T-Mobile’s Mike Sievert.