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 »
Around the world, governments, soldiers and civilians have come to rely on the Global Positioning System for all sorts of navigational uses
more »
Microsoft Monday unveiled the pricing of its forthcoming Live Communications Server
more »
Merrill Lynch on Friday will ban access to outside e-mail services from popular sites such as America Online, Yahoo and MSN
more »
The European Union Wednesday said it will give Microsoft one final opportunity to comment before it wraps up the antitrust probe it launched against the software titan nearly four years ago
more »
Dr. John M. Poindexter, director of the Dept. of Defense's Information Awareness Office (IAO), is expected to resign within the next few weeks according to senior Pentagon officials
more »
The Pentagon has agreed to stop a new program of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to predict terrorist events through the online selling of "futures" in terrorist attacks
more »
Chatrooms used for sharing hints and tips in growing business of ID theft
more »
A new approach to fighting spam includes the use of better technology to tackle the problem, according to a panel of government officials
more »
DARPA to invest in digital butlers
more »
SALT support trumps Voice XML as Speech Server sounds return of enterprise voice
more »