Spotify Hires Microsoft’s Horacio Gutierrez as General Counsel
Horacio Gutierrez, the top lawyer at Microsoft, is leaving the company to join streaming service Spotify in a similar role.
Horacio Gutierrez, the top lawyer at Microsoft, is leaving the company to join streaming service Spotify in a similar role. Spotify says Gutierrez will begin his role as general counsel in April and will be based in Manhattan.
Gutierrez, who specializes in intellectual property law, will be charged with overseeing Spotify’s complex legal and regulatory affairs around the globe. He’ll also serve as corporate secretary to the company’s board of directors.
Gutierrez has worked at Microsoft for over 17 years, but only recently rose to general counsel. Previous roles at Microsoft include legal and corporate affairs lead in Europe, and deputy general counsel, before taking the top counsel job in November 2015. “Today I truly understand what ‘mixed emotions’ means,” he said in announcing the move on Twitter. Among those to retweet Gutierrez’s news: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek.
Today I truly understand what “mixed emotions” means. But I’m really excited to join the @Spotify team! https://t.co/Q0Tbee7yYH
— Horacio Gutierrez (@horaciog) March 14, 2016
In a statement released on Monday, Microsoft’s president Brad Smith cited Gutierrez’s “huge contribution” to the company over the years. “He’s a great leader and a great person, and I know he’ll be just as successful as he takes on a new challenge.”
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A Microsoft spokesman told the Seattle Times that the company expects to announce Gutierrez’s successor by the time he departs.
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