Microsoft recruits sustainability chief from White House

Nakagawa will join Microsoft in January and take on leadership for the company’s environmental sustainability work. She will report to Brad Smith, vice chair and president.

Nakagawa brings to Microsoft almost two decades of environmental sustainability experience at the nexus of policy, business, and technology. She most recently served as special assistant to the president and senior director for climate and energy on the National Security Council at the White House. At the White House, she played a leadership role on international and domestic climate initiatives, as well as energy issues that included the international energy response to the war in Ukraine.

This built on Nakagawa’s prior work, including as the director of climate strategy for a climate tech-focused private equity firm working with growth stage companies in North America, Europe, and Asia. She also brings experience in the nonprofit and academic sectors on environmental and energy policy and regulatory issues.