Bill Gates Steps Down From Microsoft

June 5th, 2008 Posted in News

We all know him for being the founder and creator of the multi-billion pound corporation Microsoft, allowing home users to enjoy the great internet from the comfort of their own homes and using one of the most widely known operating software in the world. Come June 27^th Bill Gates will be stepping down from his position at Microsoft after 33 years, putting full chief executive Steve Ballmer in full control. Gates will be working one day per week and will be serving as board Chairman, however his focus will now be turned towards Philanthropy – very different from the internet world!

The long-time business relationship with Ballmer has seen many challenges, including a clash eight years ago when Gates had given up the chief executive position. It was at this point that Gates had to seek the assistance of Ballmer as the company were facing many obstacles and issues of losing their key employers. It was the struggle over strategy to which Ballmer was endeavouring to place his mark on the company that sparked Gates choice in changing his career path and ultimately finalising his decision to depart from the company.

Gates and Ballmer first met at Harvard University during the mid-1970. He founded Microsoft when he was developing for the microcomputer design, Altair 8800. This then grew to dominate home computing market when they introduced the MS DOS operating system during the 1980s. However, over the years Microsoft was subject to criticism for its anti competitive business practises and holding a monopoly over its computer operating systems.

Aside from the accusations and criticisms, Ballmer appears confident and positive that he will be taking control for another ten years; even though he is already facing much criticism over his failed deal between Microsoft and Yahoo. There were recent calls made to him over a possible resignation because of this, with rumours of Ray Ozzie, chief software architect to be a possible successor.

Despite these challenges, beyond the handover between Gates and Ballmer, the company is seeing a restructuring of the workforce, with the chief media officer Joanne Bradford and the vice president of Windows core technology Rob Short resigning from their positions this year. Further losses will see Jeff Raikes, business divisions’ chief retire this September.

In his last speech at the TechEd Conference on Tuesday, Gates reflects with a smile, “It’s the first time I’ve really changed my career since I was 17 years old”. Gates will no longer be a fulltime employee of Microsoft, but will play a key part in the company when it sees itself moving into mainstreaming robotics development – an exciting time for the company and even more exciting leap for Gates.