Kurt DelBene

DelBene received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Arizona.{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/former-microsoft-executive-kurt-delbene-joins-madrona-venture/|title=Former Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene joins Madrona Venture|last=Tu|first=Janet|date=2014-09-10|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}} DelBene subsequently earned a Master of Science in operations research from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cio.com/article/2909454/microsoft-brings-delbene-back-for-strategy-and-planning.html|title=Microsoft brings DelBene back for strategy and planning|last=Noyes|first=Katherine|date=2015-04-13|work=CIO|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en|archive-date=2018-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821160421/https://www.cio.com/article/2909454/microsoft-brings-delbene-back-for-strategy-and-planning.html|url-status=dead}}

DelBene's worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories as a software developer and systems engineer and as a management consultant for McKinsey & Co. prior to joining Microsoft.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/12/17/white-house-names-replacement-for-healthcaregov-repairman-jeff-zients.html|title=White House names Microsoft exec to run Healthcare.gov|last=Mangan|first=Dan|date=2013-12-17|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-06-18}}

DelBene worked in product development, before becoming President of the Microsoft Office business in 2010.{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/10/03/microsoft-names-three-new-division-presidents-following-recent-d/|title=Microsoft names three new division presidents following recent departures|last=Melanson|first=Donald|date=2010-03-10|work=Engadget|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2010/10/04/ecg-ballmer-fills-key-executive-holes.aspx|title=Ballmer fills key executive holes|last=Schwartz|first=Jeffery|date=2010-10-04|website=Washington Technology|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25}} Specifically, he served as the marketing and engineering leader for Office, Office 365, Exchange, Project, SharePoint, Visio and Lync.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/12/obama-taps-ex-microsoft-exec/|title=Obama Taps Ex-Microsoft Exec to Fix Site That's Ruining His Presidency|last=Wohlsen|first=Marcus|date=2013-12-17|magazine=WIRED|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}} While overseeing Office, DelBene reported directly to former Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer, oversaw the launch and expansion of Office 365 and was credited with leading the Microsoft shift to the cloud. During his tenure, Office revenue grew from less than $5 billion to more than $22 billion. As part of a reorganization in July 2013, Microsoft announced that DelBene would be retiring.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/07/11/microsoft-ceo-unveils-one-microsoft-in-broad-shakeup.html|title=Microsoft Unveils Shake-Up; 'Office' Chief Exits|last=David|first=Javier E.|date=2013-07-11|work=CNBC|access-date=2018-06-25}}{{Cite news|url=http://allthingsd.com/20130711/heres-microsofts-strategy-essay-and-reorg-announcement-memos/|title=Here's Microsoft's New Strategy Essay and Reorg Announcement (Memos)|last=Swisher|first=Kara|author-link=Kara Swisher|date=2013-07-11|work=AllThingsD|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en-us}} He continued with Microsoft as an adviser until mid-December.

On December 17, 2013, the White House announced that DelBene would undertake a sixth-month effort to salvage the government's health insurance website, HealthCare.gov.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/dec/17/delbene-oversee-obamacare-repairs-replacing-zients/|title=Microsoft's Kurt DelBene to oversee Obamacare repairs, replacing Jeffrey Zients|last=Howell Jr.|first=Tom|date=2013-12-17|work=The Washington Times|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}} In a statement, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said that she and President Obama chose DelBene to assist with this effort because of his experience working at Microsoft and his ability to manage and execute large scale technology projects.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/12/17/former-microsoft-executive-to-replace-zients-in-managing-healthcare-gov/|title=Former Microsoft executive to replace Zients in managing HealthCare.gov|last=Eilperin|first=Juliet|date=2013-12-17|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} DelBene was responsible for improving the security, capacity, and reliability of the website that had been plagued with slow response times, crashes, and incorrectly transmitting users' information to insurers. At the end of his time in government, DelBene was credited with helping to stabilize the website.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-brings-back-kurt-delbene-for-new-senior-strategy-post-1428943008|title=Microsoft Brings Back Kurt DelBene for New Senior Strategy Post|last=Ovide|first=Shira|date=2015-04-13|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} DelBene donated his salary back to the government.

In September 2014, DelBene joined Seattle-based venture capital firm Madrona Venture Group as a venture partner. He was responsible for identifying new investment opportunities and providing strategic guidance to companies in Madrona's portfolio.

In April 2015, Microsoft announced DelBene would return to Microsoft as EVP of corporate strategy and planning, where he would join the company's senior leadership team, reporting directly to CEO Satya Nadella.{{Cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-rehires-kurt-delbene-as-head-of-corporate-strategy-penn-now-chief-insights-officer/|title=Microsoft rehires Kurt DelBene as head of Corporate Strategy; Penn now Chief Insights Officer|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|date=2014-04-13|work=ZDNet|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}} DelBene was responsible for future investment opportunities. DelBene led the acquisition and integration of LinkedIn, Microsoft's biggest acquisition to date.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/report/linkedin-buy-biggest-acquisition-since-i-became-ceo-nadella/20160613.htm|title=LinkedIn buy biggest acquisition since I became CEO: Nadella - Rediff.com Business|date=2016-06-13|website=Rediff|access-date=2018-06-18}} In July 2017, DelBene received expanded responsibility and was given the title of chief digital officer and EVP of corporate strategy, core services engineering and operations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=25873732&ticker=MSFT|title=Kurt D. DelBene Executive Profile & Biography|website=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=2018-06-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://news.microsoft.com/exec/kurt-delbene/|title=Kurt DelBene - Official Biography|work=Microsoft|access-date=2018-06-28|language=en-US}} In that role, he continued to oversee strategy but also the company's internal Core Services Engineering and Operations groups.{{Cite news|url=https://news.microsoft.com/exec/kurt-delbene-2/|title=Kurt DelBene - Official Biography|work=Microsoft|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US}} In January 2021, DelBene announced he would be retiring from Microsoft at the end of June, to pursue personal passions and board work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-head-of-corporate-strategy-kurt-delbene-to-leave-microsoft-in-june/|title=Microsoft's head of Corporate Strategy Kurt DelBene to leave Microsoft in June|website=ZDNet}}

In November 2021, President Joe Biden announced DelBene as the nominee for assistant secretary for information and technology and CIO at the Department of Veterans Affairs.{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/03/president-biden-announces-key-nominations-10/|date=2021-11-03|publisher=The White House|access-date=2022-01-13|title=President Biden Announces Key Nominations}} The nomination was formally submitted on November 19, 2021 and referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, who held a hearing on December 15, 2021, and reported the nomination favorably to the Senate on the same day.{{cite web |title=PN1427 — Kurt D. DelBene — Department of Veterans Affairs 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/1427?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22delbene%22%2C%22delbene%22%5D%7D&s=9&r=1 |website=US Congress |date = 16 December 2021|access-date=17 December 2021}} The Senate confirmed the nomination by voice vote on December 16, 2021, and DelBene began work in January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtdelbene/|title=Kurt DelBene|website=LinkedIn|access-date=2022-01-13}}

DelBene sits on the board of trustees of Reed College.{{Cite news|url=http://www.reed.edu/news_center/press_releases/2014-2015/100914_delbene.html|title=New Trustees Bring Business Expertise to Reed College|work=Reed College|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-us}} He is on the board of directors for Partners in Health,{{Cite news|url=https://www.pih.org/pages/governance|title=Governance|work=Partners In Health|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}} and Global Partnerships, an organization that makes capital investments in projects across 18 countries to improve things such as access to electricity and basic healthcare for those living in poverty.{{Cite news|url=http://www.globalpartnerships.org/about-gp/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors {{!}} Global Partnerships|work=Global Partnerships|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625073408/http://www.globalpartnerships.org/about-gp/board-of-directors/|url-status=dead}} DelBene is also on the advisory board of the University of Washington, Bothell.{{Cite web|url=https://www.uwb.edu/chancellor/advisoryboard|title=Advisory Board - Office of the Chancellor - UW Bothell|website=www.uwb.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-18}}

DelBene is married to Suzan DelBene, a former Microsoft employee who is now a United States Congresswoman representing Washington's 1st congressional district. The couple have two children.{{Cite web|url=https://delbene.house.gov/about/full-biography.htm|title=Full Biography {{!}} U.S. House of Representatives|website=delbene.house.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-18}}

He is an avid racer of British vintage cars, which he restores himself out of his garage in the Puget Sound region. DelBene owns a Formula One car.{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishracecar.com/KurtDelBene-BRP.htm|title=Kurt DelBene's 1964 B.R.P. (BRP-BRM) Grand Prix Race Car|website=www.britishracecar.com|access-date=2018-06-18}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Chief digital officers

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:American technology executives

Category:University of Arizona alumni

Category:Stanford University alumni

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Category:Microsoft employees

Category:1960 births

Category:Biden administration personnel

Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials