No More Gates in 2008
I seem to have missed this little tidbit when it first came out, but apparently Bill Gates will be less about Microsoft and more about philanthropy come 2008.
Gates, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975, has decided that it’s time to step out of the chief software architect role so that he can spend more time and focus his energies on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, his personal charity. Dedicated to ‘bringing innovations in health and learning to the global community’, the Gates’ foundation has contributed over $30 billion (yes billion) in endowments and grants and I assume that managing a charity of that size would take up a lot of time.
So effective July 2008, Gates will step out of day-to-day operations but retain his position as chairman and key advisor. Microsoft will go through a two year transistion period to ensure that the handing over of the reigns (to current CTO Ray Ozzie) goes as smoothly as possible. CEO Steve Ballmer, who has been responsible for much of the Microsoft management reorganization over the past few years, will stay on in his position.
Says Gates of his change of focus:
This was a hard decision for me. I’m very lucky to have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging. As I prepare for this change, I firmly believe the road ahead for Microsoft is as bright as ever.”
(source)
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