Fabrice Canel is retiring from Microsoft Bing after an illustrious career

After nearly 30 years at Microsoft, Fabrice Canel has announced that he is retiring from the company. Fabrice Canel wrote, “I’m quitting Microsoft, I’m going to work today July 1st.” He added, “Today marks almost 30 years with Microsoft. Thirty years…”

Who is Fabrice Canel. Fabrice Canel is a 30-year veteran of Microsoft. He was responsible for indexing at Microsoft Bing, including crawling, URL discovery, content selection, and content processing. He was the inventor of the IndexNow program and helped create and power Bing Webmaster Tools.

Fabrice Canel has spoken at countless conferences over the years, including SMX. He has written countless articles on how search works, how to do it better on Bing and how search is compatible with productive AI. Fabrice has not only helped run one of the most powerful and important search engines in the world, but has also devoted valuable time and effort to improving the search industry through tools and education.

A message from Fabrice Canel. Here is what Fabrice Canel wrote on social media about his retirement:

Dear Microsoft colleagues, developers, lawyers, marketers, webmasters, publishers, SEO masters, product leaders, journalists, and all the brilliant minds in all search, AI, and yes, even my friends at Google.

Today marks nearly 30 years with Microsoft. Thirty years… a very short time to spend among such beautiful and admirable people. As Bilbo once said, “I don’t know half of you as well as I should; and I love less than half of you as well as I should”.

I stand before you for three purposes.

First, to tell you that I love you all very much. These three decades have been an incredible journey: from solving real business problems with IndexNow to helping webmasters and publishers thrive in the ever-changing world of SEO and AI. It has been a truly amazing journey.

Second, to celebrate this milestone and to thank all of you: my colleagues who I have worked with every day, my colleagues and co-publishers, and especially the talented people who I have trained and mentored over the past two years. He is ready, like the young hobbyists who come out with Sting and courage, to advance the team and our work with skill.

Third and finally, after many evenings by the fire with my family and friends (who wisely remind me that even the longest journey must eventually turn toward home), I decided to take advantage of Microsoft’s Voluntary Retirement Program.

So, although thirty years is a very short time to spend among beautiful and admirable people… this is the end.

I’m leaving.

I am retiring from Microsoft, effective today July 1st.

GO GOOD!

As Bilbo said, the road goes on forever… but for me now it turns west, towards a place of rest, starlight, song, and new tales after a long journey. I leave with a heart full of gratitude, memories brighter than mithril, and complete confidence in the team’s bright future.

Thank you, Microsoft.

Thank you to all our colleagues, partners, and webmaster who made this journey special. Always be curious. Keep innovating. And may your content always be found; swift as eagles and sure as the stars.

Fabrice Canel
Retires after 30 amazing years at Microsoft (Bing)

Why do we care. Fabrice is a true friend in the industry; his contributions are endless, and the truth is, they will live on in the products he created for years to come. His wisdom and knowledge shared over the years is beyond amazing and amazing.

Although Fabrice has coached a team that will continue his career, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t sad that he is retiring. It’s been an honor to work with him over the years, but I know he’s left Bing in good hands.