James Phillips, president of Microsoft's Digital Transformation Platform Group, departs

"I leave Microsoft with a full heart – one overflowing with Gratitude," Phillips wrote on LinkedIn today.  He thanked his bosses, executive VP Scott Guthrie and CEO Satya Nadella, writing that he believes Nadella is a "once-in-a-generation leader."

Phillips also expressed confidence that the Digital Transformation Platform Group, which encompasses Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Azure AI Platform, Azure Data Platform, Azure IoT Platform, and the industry cloud solutions, will remain intact and gain new leadership.

"Over the last couple years I worked very hard to develop a leadership team that can carry the vision, mission and culture of what is today DTP forward. Today I leave the team in better hands than mine," he wrote.

In recent days Phillips was rumored to be on sabbatical from Microsoft, a move that often seems to portend a leader's departure from the company.

Phillips began his work at Microsoft by leading Power BI, which has become a hugely successful reporting product for the company. He then took over responsibility for the broader Power Platform and Dynamics applications, together known as the Business Applications group, before he landed the new role as president of the DTP group.

This is the fourth notable leadership departure for the Microsoft Dynamics and Power Platform group in recent months. Partner strategy chief Cecilia Flombaum announced her departure in March and Dynamics 365 product leader Muhammad Alam left in January. And GM for Dynamics 365 Commerce Balaji Balasubramanian left in March. 

Phillips did not reveal his next role. He has recently taken on new secondary roles as Strategic Director at VC firm Madrona Venture Group and as a board member at software firm F5.