Professional Role and Experience
Michael Ray served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Secretary at Western Digital Corporation until his voluntary departure in January 2024. He held the position of General Counsel beginning in 2010 and assumed expanded legal responsibilities as Chief Legal Officer in 2015. Over the course of more than 13 years leading Western Digital’s legal department, Ray was responsible for the company’s worldwide legal, risk management, compliance, and government relations functions.
At Western Digital, Ray held multiple senior legal leadership roles, including senior counsel, assistant general counsel, and vice president of legal services, prior to becoming general counsel and chief legal officer. His tenure coincided with significant corporate events, including merger and acquisition negotiations, securities filings, and managing diverse legal matters—from labor and employment cases to intellectual property protection.
Ray’s legal expertise and leadership contributed to the growth and enhancement of Western Digital’s legal department, notably maintaining focus within the company on strategic priorities and compliance amid industry challenges and corporate restructurings. He is credited with negotiating key customer contracts and guiding complex corporate governance initiatives.
Transition and Current Position
In early 2024, Ray transitioned to Micron Technology, where he was appointed as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary. This move came shortly before Western Digital’s announced corporate split, reflecting a strategic shift in Ray’s career to continue exercising his legal leadership in the semiconductor and data storage industry.
Education and Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree with honors from Harvard College
- Law degree with honors from Harvard Law School
Ray possesses nearly 30 years of legal experience, with a specialized focus on technology and data storage sectors.
Awards and Recognition
- Orange County Business Journal’s Public Company General Counsel of the Year (2012)
- Honored as a Global Distinguished General Counsel by the Directors Roundtable
- Recipient of the Warren Christopher Values Award from O'Melveny & Myers LLP (May 2022)
These accolades recognize Ray’s contributions to corporate legal governance and ethical practices, as well as his leadership skills within the general counsel community.
Key Responsibilities and Achievements at Western Digital
- Led Western Digital’s legal, compliance, risk management, and government relations globally
- Directed the company's legal strategy during pivotal corporate transactions and regulatory matters
- Oversaw drafting and negotiation of securities filings and intellectual property protection initiatives
- Managed labor and employment litigation and compliance with evolving data security regulations
- Fostered optimism and focus within legal teams, aligning legal functions with Western Digital’s corporate objectives
Contact and Location
- Based in Huntington Beach, California during tenure at Micron Technology
- Former corporate email for Western Digital: Michael.Ray@wdc.com
This profile indicates Michael Ray as a seasoned legal executive with deep expertise in technology sector corporate law, governance, and compliance, augmented by strategic leadership in high-stakes, global legal environments. His recent transition to Micron positions him at a key role within another leading semiconductor company, making his experience relevant to complex legal, regulatory, and commercial landscapes in data storage and memory technologies.
