Bill Gates to leave day-to-day operations of Microsoft

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Oh boy!
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:thumbsup2: Move to the tech forum if you wish. I just thought it was bigger news than just the tech forum.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003063990_webgates15.html

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced today he will be leaving his daily role at the company he founded to focus on global health and education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. But he's not rushing out — the transition process will take two years, Microsoft said.
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Gates will continue to serve as Microsoft's chairman and adviser on key development projects even after the transition is complete in July 2008, the company said. The two-year time frame is designed to work toward a smooth transfer of strategy and knowledge.

Gates has played a direct role in guiding the company since its inception in 1975, but more recently has said he intended to spend time with his foundation in the future. "This was a hard decision for me," Gates said in a statement. "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."

Steve Ballmer, who took over as the company's chief executive from Gates in 2000, said Gates' impact on the company won't diminish. "We will contrinue his tradition of thinking big, executing bigger," he said.

In the meantime, Microsoft Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie will immediately take over Gates' title as chief software architect and "begin working side by side with Gates on all technical architecture and product oversight responsibilities, to ensure a smooth transition," the company said in a statement.

Chief Technical Officer Craig Mundie will assume the new title as chief research and strategy officer and work closely with Gates to take over responsibility for the company's research and incubation efforts, while also working with General Counsel Brad Smith on intellectual property and technology policy , the company said.

"Bill and I are confident we've got a great team that can step up to fill his shoes and drive Microsoft innovation forward without missing a beat," Ballmer said.

Gates said, "I've had a chance at great wealth, and with great wealth comes great responsibilty. It is time to give back to society those resources in the best possible way to help those in need."

Ozzie, who founded Groove Networks in 1997, was named chief technical officer at Microsoft when the company acquired Groove Networks in April 2005.

"Our business and technical leadership has never been stronger, and Microsoft is well-positioned for success in the years ahead," Gates said. "I feel very fortunate to have such great technical leaders like Ray and Craig at the company."
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Gates added: "I remain fully committed and full time at Microsoft through June 2008 and will be working side by side with Ray and Craig to ensure that a smooth transition occurs."

He also said, I don't see a time in the future where I won't be chairman of the company. "I want to have that asosciation my entire life and I'm commited to do that."

Seattle Times technology reporters Kim Peterson and Tricia Duryee contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company
 

And if the Road Warrior says it, it must be true..
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Say what you want about Bill Gates but he is the most generous man to ever walk the planet...you have to comend the guy for his donations in 3rd world contries to help rid these help children of preventable diseases like polio, Aids and so on. Would any of us do the amount of charity this guy does.. I don't think so...jmo
 

There's always next year, like in 75, 90-93, 99 &
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I always admired Gates desire to fight every last ruling by the Feds.
 

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probably the best time to leave, before the fiasco of 'Vista' hurts the stock
 

Oh boy!
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maxdemo said:
Say what you want about Bill Gates but he is the most generous man to ever walk the planet...you have to comend the guy for his donations in 3rd world contries to help rid these help children of preventable diseases like polio, Aids and so on. Would any of us do the amount of charity this guy does.. I don't think so...jmo

On one hand, I believe he is a criminal and should be in jail. He has sabotaged other companies' products and out-right stolen some. He has created a near monopoly of his desktop product to the detraction of other better products. It's only because of his money that he got away with as much as he did. It's easier for him to pay a penalty and continue to have a near-monopoly rather than play by the rules and allow free competition.

On the other hand, he has given more money to charities than he is currently worth. I have to admire that aspect about him.
 

Oh boy!
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wolfie_cr said:
probably the best time to leave, before the fiasco of 'Vista' hurts the stock

His speech in the video says he will be around for 2 more years.

He also said that he used to inspect every line of code and interview every employee.

The guy who will be taking over for him was only hire a year ago. That seems like an awfully big gamble to me.
 

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quantumleap said:
On one hand, I believe he is a criminal and should be in jail. He has sabotaged other companies' products and out-right stolen some. He has created a near monopoly of his desktop product to the detraction of other better products. It's only because of his money that he got away with as much as he did. It's easier for him to pay a penalty and continue to have a near-monopoly rather than play by the rules and allow free competition.

On the other hand, he has given more money to charities than he is currently worth. I have to admire that aspect about him.

Gates has certainly benefitted from the loose anti-trust law interpretations of late. You gotta admire his cut-throat business acumen on a certain level...and he does donate to ease his robber-baron conscience.
 

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quantumleap said:
On one hand, I believe he is a criminal and should be in jail. He has sabotaged other companies' products and out-right stolen some. He has created a near monopoly of his desktop product to the detraction of other better products. It's only because of his money that he got away with as much as he did. It's easier for him to pay a penalty and continue to have a near-monopoly rather than play by the rules and allow free competition.

On the other hand, he has given more money to charities than he is currently worth. I have to admire that aspect about him.

Agree 100% on both points.
 

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quantumleap said:
His speech in the video says he will be around for 2 more years.

He also said that he used to inspect every line of code and interview every employee.

The guy who will be taking over for him was only hire a year ago. That seems like an awfully big gamble to me.

every line of code???????????


WHEN was that ? when they released windows 1.0?????

its IMPOSSIBLE for him to do that...............even if it was just for ONE of microsoft product which has hundreds of thousands of lines of code!
 

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Like it matters when your are worth billions because of the stock you own. The whole charity thing makes sense because tax laws are very generous to stock grants. Gates gives his shares to a non-profit and then the tax gain the shares theoretically owed disappear when the foundation sells the stock.

Gates has long said he would give 98% of his wealth away. 2% of many billions is still a lot of money though.
 

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Bill Gates is a very kind man Microsoft might even be split into 3-4 different compainies it is way to big.
 

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