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 »
A new smartphone from Samsung has been announced by Three in Sweden, the Samsung Galaxy Z.
more »
News Corporation has sold its ailing social networking site MySpace to online advertising firm Specific Media.
more »
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer promoted company‘s new cloud product Office 365at an event in New York City.
more »
Most folks do work with their hands, but what about your feet?
more »
Company Double Research & Development has developed a new input device that can sense motion and pressure of the fingers. Manipulator "amenbo" find its use in applications requiring detection of users using their hands.
more »
Thousands of pages from one of the world's biggest collections of historic books, pamphlets and periodicals are to be made available on the internet.
more »
Chinese internet giant Alibaba has announced that it is reorganizing one of its websites, Taobao, into three separate units.
more »
Mr Lockhart, who joins Facebook next month as Vice President of Global Communications, represents the company's latest move to enlist Washington insiders.
more »
Facebook is planning an IPO that could value the company at as much as $100 billion, according to CNBC sources.
more »
Audi and MIT's SENSEable City Lab have teamed up to design the car navigation system of the future - a 3D display that will sit on the dashboard.
more »