Microsoft has nominated Irish billionaire John Collison, co-founder and president of payments technology company Stripe, for election to its board of directors as the technology giant prepares for two longstanding directors to depart in December. The nomination was disclosed in Microsoft’s annual proxy statement filed on 21 October 2026, ahead of the company’s annual shareholder meeting scheduled for 8 December. At 36, Collison brings entrepreneurial experience and expertise in financial technology to a board overseeing Microsoft’s expansion across cloud computing, artificial intelligence and enterprise software. According to Billionaires Africa and US Exchange Commission, Collison is the only new nominee among the directors standing for election, with shareholders expected to vote on his appointment at the annual meeting.
The proposed appointment coincides with the planned departures of LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and Hugh Johnston, Disney’s chief financial officer, who chairs Microsoft’s Audit and Finance Committee. Both joined Microsoft’s board in 2017 and have decided not to seek re-election, with their board service expected to end in December. Hoffman’s departure had previously been announced in June, while Johnston’s decision was disclosed in the latest proxy statement. Microsoft also confirmed that Carmine Di Sibio, the former chief executive of EY, who joined the board in May 2026, will stand for election by shareholders for the first time. The changes will leave Microsoft with 12 board members following the annual meeting, assuming Collison is elected and the announced departures proceed as planned.
Collison co-founded Stripe with his brother Patrick in 2010, building the company into one of the world’s leading payments infrastructure providers for businesses operating online. Stripe reported that businesses using its platform processed $1.9 trillion in payments during 2025, underlining its growing role in global commerce. The company also has existing commercial ties with Microsoft, including support for Copilot Checkout, which enables users to make purchases through Microsoft’s AI assistant, and payment services for Microsoft Teams events. Microsoft’s proxy statement says its board considers Collison independent after reviewing relevant business relationships. His nomination comes as Microsoft strengthens its oversight of technology and AI-related opportunities, while the departure of two experienced directors marks a transition in board leadership and committee responsibilities.
