Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer, Craig Mundie, said he will step down from his role as he prepares for his retirement in 2014.

Mundie has taken on the position of "senior adviser to the CEO," according to his biography on Microsoft's Web site. His responsibilities, which include overseeing Microsoft Research and other technical strategy duties, will fall to Eric Rudder, the company's chief technical strategy officer, according to AllThingsD.