Kya Sainsbury-Carter steps down as Microsoft Advertising chief after a 20-year stint, with LinkedIn’s Matt Derella expanding his role to unify go-to-market efforts across Microsoft’s growing advertising ecosystem.
Sainsbury-Carter, who joined Microsoft in 2006 and most recently served as Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Advertising, led the company’s multi-billion-dollar ads business across search, display, retail media and partnerships.
Taking over expanded responsibilities is Derella, a LinkedIn advertising executive who joined the platform in late 2024 to lead global ad sales.
He will now oversee LinkedIn Marketing Solutions as well as the go-to-market strategy for Microsoft Advertising.
Industry observers view the shift as part of the company’s strategy to streamline its ad stack and better compete with dominant players in the global advertising market.
Kya Sainsbury-Carter steps down as Microsoft Advertising chief after a 20-year stint, with LinkedIn’s Matt Derella expanding his role to unify go-to-market efforts across Microsoft’s growing advertising ecosystem.
Microsoft Advertising chief Kya Sainsbury-Carter has stepped down after more than 20 years with the company, marking the end of a long leadership run at the tech giant’s global ads business.
Sainsbury-Carter, who joined Microsoft in 2006 and most recently served as Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Advertising, led the company’s multi-billion-dollar ads business across search, display, retail media and partnerships. Her exit comes after a three-year stint at the helm of the division and reflects a broader leadership transition as Microsoft continues to evolve its advertising strategy.
In a candid farewell post shared on LinkedIn, Sainsbury-Carter reflected on her two-decade journey, saying, “How fast 20 years fly by when you’re having fun and doing cool sh*t.” She described her tenure as deeply meaningful while acknowledging that “with humility comes self-awareness… of when it’s time to turn the reins over to new thinking and new leaders.”
She acknowledged the significance of the role and her connection to the company, adding that Microsoft had been “my identity for a long time,” but said she now looks forward to “reclaim[ing] my identity… not tethered to where I work or what I do.” At the same time, she expressed gratitude toward colleagues, saying she would miss the “intellect, humor, drive” and direct feedback that shaped her career.
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Sainsbury-Carter also endorsed her successor, stating that Matt Derella is “a friend and respected colleague” who will bring strong leadership to the business.
Taking over expanded responsibilities is Derella, a LinkedIn advertising executive who joined the platform in late 2024 to lead global ad sales. He will now oversee LinkedIn Marketing Solutions as well as the go-to-market strategy for Microsoft Advertising.
The leadership consolidation is seen as an effort to align Microsoft’s broader advertising ecosystem more closely with LinkedIn’s fast-growing B2B advertising business. While both units will continue to operate independently, the integrated leadership structure is expected to simplify cross-platform offerings, improve measurement, and strengthen unified sales efforts.
The move comes at a time when Microsoft is deepening its play in digital advertising across platforms such as Bing, MSN, LinkedIn, and emerging AI-driven experiences. Industry observers view the shift as part of the company’s strategy to streamline its ad stack and better compete with dominant players in the global advertising market.
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With Sainsbury-Carter’s departure and Derella’s expanded mandate, Microsoft’s advertising business enters a new phase—balancing legacy scale with closer platform integration and evolving advertiser needs.
First Published on May 20, 2026, 17:30:51 IST
