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February 3, 2026, 6:42 AM EST. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella signals AI mastery as the benchmark for leadership. In October he ceded control of Microsoft's commercial units to double down on AI and transformation for customers, underscoring that AI capability is nonnegotiable. The move aligns with other long-tenured tech leaders, even as boards push for sharper performance amid disruption. The global average CEO tenure has fallen to about 7.2 years, with tech roughly matching that pace, Russell Reynolds says. Observers expect a younger, AI-native cohort to rise as boards prize fluency in rapidly evolving tech. Industry executives warn that the disruption cycle is accelerating and burnout risk grows unless leaders adapt quickly. The trend implies more churn at the Fortune 500 as AI shapes strategy.