Microsoft has named Cari Benn its new chief privacy officer, elevating the 18-year veteran during a period of intensified scrutiny over corporate data practices. The promotion was announced Friday on LinkedIn by Benn, who emphasized the company’s ongoing responsibility to ensure technology is deployed with respect for privacy and trust.

Benn takes over from Julie Brill, who has served as Microsoft’s privacy chief since 2016. Brill will depart in July and plans to start a consulting firm in September with Microsoft as her first client, according to Law.com reporting.

Since joining Microsoft’s online services division in 2007, Benn has developed deep regulatory and policy experience. Most recently, she served as associate general counsel for regulatory affairs, privacy and accessibility, where she engaged with global policymakers and data protection authorities. Her work has included overseeing compliance efforts related to key privacy laws, such as the GDPR and CCPA.

Her new role will place her at the helm of Microsoft’s global privacy operations as the company expands its suite of enterprise and AI-based products. Benn will be tasked with aligning Microsoft’s privacy posture across multiple jurisdictions while addressing the increasingly complex relationship between data protection and AI deployment.

Microsoft’s announcement comes as regulators in the U.S. and Europe examine whether AI systems comply with established data protection norms. Lawmakers have questioned the legal foundations for training generative AI models on publicly available and user-generated data, raising concerns about potential infringements of privacy rights and consent requirements.

Benn’s prior focus on accessibility and cybersecurity, combined with her regulatory experience, is likely to be central in shaping Microsoft’s ongoing AI policy engagements.