Microsoft has announced a significant internal restructuring that shifts the company’s communications group away from the marketing department. Moving forward, the communications team will operate under the Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs (CELA) organization, which is led by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith.

This transition comes as Microsoft prepares for the departure of its longtime Chief Communications Officer, Frank Shaw, who is set to leave the company later this year. In an internal memo regarding the organizational change, CEO Satya Nadella expressed gratitude for Shaw’s contributions to the company.

While the company has not yet named a permanent successor for Shaw, the move places the communications strategy directly under Smith’s purview. This consolidation suggests a shift in how Microsoft intends to manage its public image, moving it closer to the legal and external affairs functions that Smith has managed for years. The company is currently conducting a search for a new communications leader to fill the vacancy left by Shaw.