Former GE CFO Carolina Dybeck Happe Takes on COO Role at Microsoft

On Thursday, Microsoft unveiled that Carolina Dybeck Happe has been appointed as the company’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. She will be reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella and will be a key member of Microsoft’s senior leadership team, which includes other high-profile executives such as finance chief Amy Hood and cloud and AI engineering leader Scott Guthrie.

Dybeck Happe joins Microsoft from General Electric (GE), where she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2020 until September 2023. Her appointment is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to enhance coordination and drive its significant focus on artificial intelligence.

The move underscores Microsoft's commitment to integrating advanced AI capabilities throughout its operations, aiming to enhance business processes and maximize value for customers and partners. By appointing Carolina Dybeck Happe, Microsoft seeks to leverage her extensive experience to drive efficiency and strategic alignment, ensuring that AI advancements are effectively incorporated into its organizational framework.

In her new role at Microsoft, Dybeck Happe will oversee several crucial areas. She will take charge of the commerce and ecosystems organization, which was previously led by Scott Guthrie.This move followed GE’s 2021 announcement to split into three separate entities, marking a significant restructuring of the company. During her tenure at GE, Carolina Dybeck Happe was widely recognized for her effective leadership and strategic impact. GE CEO Larry Culp notably commended her as a “high-impact executive” upon her appointment as CFO in 2019, succeeding Jamie Miller. Her leadership was pivotal during this transformative period for GE.

Dybeck Happe’s appointment comes at a time of significant transition at GE, which recently saw its aviation and energy businesses, GE Aerospace and GE Vernova, start trading on the New York Stock Exchange. This move followed GE’s 2021 announcement to split into three separate entities, marking a significant restructuring of the company. During her tenure at GE, Carolina Dybeck Happe was widely recognized for her effective leadership and strategic impact. GE CEO Larry Culp notably commended her as a “high-impact executive” upon her appointment as CFO in 2019, succeeding Jamie Miller. Her leadership was pivotal during this transformative period for GE.

Before joining GE, Carolina Dybeck Happe served as the finance chief at Maersk, a global leader in logistics and transportation. Her career also includes nearly 17 years at Assa Abloy, a leading Swedish lock company, where she held pivotal roles as CFO and Deputy CEO. Dybeck Happe's extensive background in finance and operations equips her with the skills and experience necessary to excel in her new role at Microsoft, where she will be instrumental in enhancing operational efficiency and driving strategic initiatives, particularly in the context of the company’s expanding focus on artificial intelligence.

Microsoft has been without a dedicated Chief Operating Officer since Kevin Turner, a former Walmart executive, left the company in 2016. The appointment of Carolina Dybeck Happe is anticipated to bring a renewed emphasis on operational efficiency and strategic alignment. This move is particularly significant as Microsoft continues to adapt and evolve in the rapidly changing technology landscape, with a strong focus on integrating and leveraging artificial intelligence. Dybeck Happe’s extensive experience in financial and operational leadership is expected to enhance Microsoft’s ability to drive business process improvements and accelerate its AI transformation efforts.