Brad Smith
Brad Smith serves as Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, making him the company's most senior legal and public policy executive and one of the most influential figures in technology governance worldwide. He is widely recognized as the architect of Microsoft's approach to responsible AI, digital safety, and antitrust engagement — positions that carry enormous weight across the AdTech and broader digital advertising ecosystem as regulators scrutinize data practices, identity, and platform dominance. Smith has been instrumental in shaping Microsoft's stance on privacy legislation, AI regulation, and cybersecurity policy at both the U.S. federal and international levels. Smith joined Microsoft in 1993 as an attorney and rose through the legal ranks to become General Counsel before ascending to his current role. Over more than three decades, he has navigated some of the most consequential legal and regulatory battles in tech history, including Microsoft's landmark antitrust case with the U.S. Department of Justice in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His leadership helped transform Microsoft from a company seen as a monopolistic aggressor into one that actively courts regulatory dialogue and positions itself as a responsible technology steward — a posture that has proven strategically valuable as scrutiny of Google, Meta, and Amazon has intensified. In the AdTech context, Smith's influence is felt through Microsoft's competitive positioning in digital advertising — including the acquisition of Xandr and its integration into Microsoft's advertising stack — as well as his vocal advocacy for privacy-preserving technologies and AI-driven advertising solutions. He is the author of 'Tools and Weapons' (2019) and co-author of 'AI Snake Oil' debates, and he regularly testifies before Congress and speaks at global policy forums. His work on the EU AI Act, the U.S. AI Safety Institute, and cross-border data flows directly affects how digital advertising infrastructure is built and governed.
Last updated Sep 26, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment
- Years in industry
- 30 years
Bio
Brad Smith serves as Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, making him the company's most senior legal and public policy executive and one of the most influential figures in technology governance worldwide. He is widely recognized as the architect of Microsoft's approach to responsible AI, digital safety, and antitrust engagement — positions that carry enormous weight across the AdTech and broader digital advertising ecosystem as regulators scrutinize data practices, identity, and platform dominance. Smith has been instrumental in shaping Microsoft's stance on privacy legislation, AI regulation, and cybersecurity policy at both the U.S. federal and international levels. Smith joined Microsoft in 1993 as an attorney and rose through the legal ranks to become General Counsel before ascending to his current role. Over more than three decades, he has navigated some of the most consequential legal and regulatory battles in tech history, including Microsoft's landmark antitrust case with the U.S. Department of Justice in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His leadership helped transform Microsoft from a company seen as a monopolistic aggressor into one that actively courts regulatory dialogue and positions itself as a responsible technology steward — a posture that has proven strategically valuable as scrutiny of Google, Meta, and Amazon has intensified. In the AdTech context, Smith's influence is felt through Microsoft's competitive positioning in digital advertising — including the acquisition of Xandr and its integration into Microsoft's advertising stack — as well as his vocal advocacy for privacy-preserving technologies and AI-driven advertising solutions. He is the author of 'Tools and Weapons' (2019) and co-author of 'AI Snake Oil' debates, and he regularly testifies before Congress and speaks at global policy forums. His work on the EU AI Act, the U.S. AI Safety Institute, and cross-border data flows directly affects how digital advertising infrastructure is built and governed.
Career
President and Chief Legal Officer
Microsoft · 2015-2021
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Microsoft · 2002-2015
Deputy General Counsel
Microsoft · 1996-2002
Associate General Counsel
Microsoft · 1993-1996
Associate
Covington & Burling · 1988-1993
Board memberships
Advisory roles
Expertise & education
Expertise
Education
- J.D., Columbia Law School
- B.A., Economics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Graduate Studies, International Law, Free University of Brussels
Speaking topics
Recognition
Notable achievements
- Led Microsoft's legal strategy through the landmark U.S. DOJ antitrust case, helping reshape the company's regulatory posture
- Authored 'Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age' (2019), a widely read book on technology policy
- Championed the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, signed by dozens of nations and hundreds of companies
- Testified before the U.S. Congress and EU Parliament on AI regulation, privacy, and cybersecurity on multiple occasions
- Oversaw Microsoft's acquisition and integration of Xandr, expanding the company's AdTech capabilities
- Co-led Microsoft's advocacy for the U.S. AI Safety Institute and international AI governance frameworks
Awards
Publications
- Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age (2019, co-authored with Carol Ann Browne)
- Regular op-eds and policy papers on Microsoft's official blog (The Official Microsoft Blog)