Horacio Gutierrez surprised the legal industry on Monday by announcing that he’s leaving Microsoft Corp. to become Spotify USA Inc.’s next general counsel. Gutierrez became Microsoft’s GC just four months ago, when longtime Microsoft lawyer Brad Smith left the GC post to become president and chief legal officer.
In an interview, Gutierrez said he’s had a “great career” at Microsoft over the past 17 years, but the new gig “was just the right opportunity at the right time.” Gutierrez has a background in intellectual property law, and he says he’s excited to be joining Spotify during a “really interesting point in the development in the music streaming business.”
