Microsoft's business development chief, Chris Young, has resigned.

• In 2020, Chris Young left McAfee to join Microsoft, where he spearheaded the effort to divest the company from Intel.
• As one of Microsoft's top-paid executives, Young oversaw the software company's venture capital group and strategic partnerships.

The head of business development at the software giant, Chris Young, who played a key role in the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, has resigned from his position after nearly four years on the job, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday. No successor was announced.

In 2020, Young joined Microsoft from his position as CEO of McAfee, where he led the effort to separate the company from . Prior to that, he held executive positions at Cisco and RSA.

Young was a member of Microsoft's senior leadership team, which included CEO Satya Nadella and finance chief Amy Hood. He reported to Nadella. As one of the highest paid Microsoft employees, Young earned $12 million in total compensation in the 2024 fiscal year, according to a filing.

In 2023, M12 announced that it would collaborate more closely with Microsoft to support its portfolio companies.

In 2023, Microsoft completed its largest acquisition ever, purchasing video game publisher Activision for $68.7 billion. Additionally, Young was involved in Microsoft's expansion of its partnership with artificial intelligence startup OpenAI and its ad deal with .

Microsoft highlighted one of its most prominent Black executives as a thought leader on diversity and inclusion in the technology industry in a 2023 filing.

Microsoft has not made any recent comments about its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, but there has been a broader industry rollback since President Donald Trump's reelection in November. Some of its DEI programs have been canceled, as stated by the company.

Microsoft's chief diversity officer stated in December that the company's efforts in diversity were "of utmost importance."

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discusses the $500B Stargate project and the ongoing partnership with OpenAI.