Gates to spend more time with his vaccines

[Guest guest]

" I know the contribution you will make to the world of health and

education will be as great as the contribution you have made and

continue to make to the world of software, " Ballmer added.

 

Hopefully, for the sake of Africa, that won't come true.

 

 

Gates to spend more time with his vaccines

By Ashlee Vance in Mountain View

Published Thursday 15th June 2006 21:46 GMT

 

Chairman Bill dished out a stunner on Thursday, saying he will give up

day-to-day responsibilities at Microsoft in July of 2008. Over the next

two years, Gates will hand over his full-time duties to a couple of

lieutenants and prepare for life as a professional humanitarian.

 

Microsoft revealed the two-year transition process during a press

conference today. Gates currently serves as Chairman and Chief Software

Architect of the company he co-founded. While remaining Chairman, the

rich one, however, now plans to play a more active role at the Bill &

Melinda Gates Foundation.

 

Ray Ozzie - one of the masterminds behind Microsoft's infamous " More

Meetings Papers

(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/10/gates_ozzie_memos/) " - has

already taken over the Chief Software Architect title. Chief Technical

Officer Craig Mundie has become the chief research and strategy officer

and will hold hands with Gates during the transition.

 

" Our business and technical leadership has never been stronger, and

Microsoft is well-positioned for success in the years ahead. I feel very

fortunate to have such great technical leaders like Ray and Craig at the

company, " Gates said. " 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. "

 

During Gates' tenure as Chief Software Architect, Microsoft has failed

to push out a successor to Windows XP and fallen years behind Apple from

an operating system technology standpoint. Gates' " think weeks " never

seemed long enough for him to churn out any ground-breaking ideas for

the company. It's not immediately clear if Mundie will now be granted

the privilege of reading in a cabin for a week while wearing fun socks

and drinking soda.

 

Will Gates' departure lift the spirits of frustrated Windows users

around the globe? Sure, you can still beat up on CEO Steve Ballmer, but

Gates was the ultimate prize. World+Dog will surely have less invective

for Gates once he starts helping the poor and infected full-time.

 

" I will shift to work full-time at the foundation and part-time at

Microsoft as Chairman and as a senior technical advisor, " Gates said,

during the press conference. " With the success of Microsoft, I have been

given the gift of great wealth. I believe that with that great wealth

comes great responsibility. "

 

Gates and Ballmer then engaged in a mushy " we love each other " session.

 

Gates said, " I will miss working with Steve every day. . . I could not

ask for a better business partner or a better friend. "

 

Ballmer returned the favor noting that it " has been my privilege to work

shoulder-to-shoulder with a true visionary. . . Bill Gates more than

anyone else unleashed the technology revolution. "

 

Er, we'll let that last bit go for the moment other than adding that

Gates nodded in agreement with Ballmer. Ever humble.

 

" I know the contribution you will make to the world of health and

education will be as great as the contribution you have made and

continue to make to the world of software, " Ballmer added.

 

Hopefully, for the sake of Africa, that won't come true.

 

Gates noted that he expects to remain Chairman for the rest of his life

and to remain the largest shareholder in Microsoft.

 

The role shift at Microsoft marks the second major change at a

technology powerhouse this year, following Scott McNealy's decision to

step down as CEO of Sun Microsystems. Both Gates and McNealy's

personalities carried over to the companies they founded in major ways. ®

 

© Copyright 2006