Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and a prominent figure in the tech industry, has announced that he will be leaving Microsoft’s board of directors. This decision comes after a decade-long tenure on the board, where he witnessed significant investments and partnerships, including Microsoft’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI in 2019.
Hoffman joined the board in 2016 following Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn for $26.2 billion. During his time on the board, he was one of the key figures who helped shape Microsoft’s strategy and direction. One notable deal that took place during Hoffman’s tenure was Microsoft’s acqui-hire agreement with Inflection AI for $650 million.
As a result of this deal, Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Inflection AI, joined Microsoft. In an interview, Hoffman expressed his excitement to dive back into ‘founder mode’ with Manus, an AI startup he is involved with.
Manus is a drug discovery company that has raised over $50 million through seed rounds last year. Hoffman serves as the chairman of the board and investor, while Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee holds the position of CEO. The startup is working on ‘Move 37’ AI, which aims to surpass human creativity in chemistry, particularly in combating various cancers.
Hoffman’s decision to step down from Microsoft’s board marks a significant shift in his focus towards Manus. With his extensive experience and network, he is poised to drive growth and innovation at the startup.
The news of Hoffman’s departure was announced by Microsoft on Thursday. In a statement, the company expressed gratitude for Hoffman’s contributions to the board and wished him well in his future endeavors.
Hoffman’s exit from Microsoft’s board comes as no surprise given his increasing involvement with Manus. The startup has been gaining traction in recent months, and Hoffman’s departure is seen as a strategic move to focus on its growth and development.
In an interview, Hoffman stated that he was looking forward to ‘getting back to my roots’ and working closely with the team at Manus. He expressed his confidence in the startup’s potential to make a significant impact in the field of AI and drug discovery.
As Hoffman embarks on this new chapter in his career, it remains to be seen how his departure from Microsoft’s board will affect the company’s strategy and direction. However, one thing is certain – Reid Hoffman’s legacy at Microsoft will continue to shape the tech industry for years to come.
**Correction:** This article has been updated to reflect that Hoffman was not a member of OpenAI’s board until 2023.
**Update:** Microsoft has announced that it will be conducting an internal review of its governance structure in light of Hoffman’s departure. The company stated that it is committed to maintaining the highest standards of corporate governance and transparency.
This article has been updated to reflect this development.
Source: Original article