Gates turns over reins of his empire.
Published:
28 January 2000 y., Friday
In a surprise announcement, Bill Gates said Thursday that he will step down as Microsoft chief executive and hand over the reins to longtime friend and company president Steve Ballmer. Gates, 44, said he will remain as chairman and fill a new post created for himself: chief software architect. He also said in a statement that Ballmer will become a member of the Microsoft board of directors Jan. 27.
Although Gates_ decision to hand the CEO duties to Ballmer had long been anticipated, the timing of the announcement was not expected. Gates waited until after the completion of Windows 2000, which will ship next month, before making the change. The changing of the guard is taking place at a tumultuous time for Microsoft. Just Wednesday, news leaked that the Department of Justice is proposing a breakup of Microsoft to help resolve the antitrust case pending against the company. Those who know Gates say it would be a mistake to assume that he is abandoning the company he founded in its time of need, believing that he will continue working behind the scenes to thwart his antagonists. At the very least, however, the end of his tenure as chief executive is of much symbolic value to those who have witnessed the astounding ascent of Microsoft and technology in general.
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Software company announced new structure_ of it_s business.
more »
An £8 million (U.S. $14.5 million) campaign by Switch/Maestro that features a pair of adventurous penguins on holiday in Venice and Paris has helped to drive a massive upsurge in the number of consumers using their Switch-branded bank cards overseas
more »
Microsoft officials launched a last-minute reminder to Windows users Monday afternoon to prevent the spread of the MyDoom
more »
search.lt presents newest links
more »
Communicating Visions - Exhibition and Symposium
more »
Diebold, Incorporated has earned the Central Station Alarm Association's (CSAA) "Five Diamond 100 percent Operator Certified Central Station" designation
more »
Sun Microsystems Inc. says its Jxta technology for peer-to-peer computing is gathering steam and may soon make its way into some of its own products
more »
search.lt presents newest links
more »
Ten years ago when the first ATMs appeared in Lithuania maybe someone was intimidated with the bank’s payment card. Today a small piece of plastic gives a consumer the unlimited possibilities. What are they?
more »
search.lt presents newest links
more »
Police find 3,000 forged copies of XP Pro along with forged certificates of authentication
more »