Microsoft Buying LinkedIn

Microsoft announced that they are buying LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in an all-cash transaction. LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence according to their press release. Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Reid Hoffman, chairman of the board, co-founder and controlling shareholder of LinkedIn, and Weiner both fully support this transaction. The transaction is expected to close this calendar year.

“I’ve always had a great admiration for LinkedIn and what Reed, Jeff and the team here have built,” stated Nadella. “I’m a user on LinkedIn, I’m a publisher on LinkedIn and as I’ve thought about it more in terms of what is it that is most needed in today’s world I’m a great believer in productivity tools and communication tools because that’s what empowers people to be able to be great at their job. Think about taking that and connecting it with the professional network and really having that entirety of what is your professional life be enhanced, be more empowered. acquiring new skills and being more successful in your current job and finding a greater and bigger next job. That’s that vision, and I’ve been talking with Reed and Jeff for a while and the fact that it has came together now is fantastic.”

“When we started to get into serious discussions, Satya and I, during that first meeting he said we have to ensure that their is alignment in two key areas, one is Purpose and the other is Structure,” stated Weiner. “It was after the Purpose discussion and starting to riff and brainstorm on all the things we can do together, where there was a lot of excitement. It’s not about sitting back and reacting to this. Satya has said time and time again you guys have to write the rules here. We’re going to do this differently, we have the shared sense of alignment. So let’s dream big and think about what’s possible and that’s going to be first principal.”