Microsoft AI CMO Mallard Departs Amid Copilot Restructuring

Andréa Mallard, chief marketing officer of Microsoft's AI unit, is leaving the company after about six months in the role. An internal memo from Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi cited family reasons—Mallard plans to relocate to Europe to be closer to her ailing father—but sources say her exit also reflects a strategic shift in consumer marketing at Microsoft. Microsoft is merging its consumer and business Copilot apps into a single application, and Copilot marketing responsibilities are being consolidated under executive Jared Spataro. The company does not plan to directly replace Mallard's CMO position. Mallard will remain as an advisor until early next year. Her departure follows other leadership changes at Microsoft, including the March move of CEO Mustafa Suleyman to a superintelligence-focused role. Copilot, Microsoft's flagship generative AI product, has trailed competitors like ChatGPT and Claude in consumer adoption. Mallard's tenure included Super Bowl and influencer campaigns, though both began before she joined.