   Bill Gates to Step Aside, Focus on Philanthropy
eWeek tells us...Quote:Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates is planning to leave in 2008 the company he founded 31 years ago, in order to focus on his philanthropy work.Gates said June 15 he will remain as chairman and doesn't "see a time when I'm not chairman of the company.""It's not a retirement. It's a reprioritization," said Gates, who said he plans to focus his time on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.Gates, 50, started Microsoft in 1975 with childhood friend Paul Allen. He took Microsoft public in 1986 and was the company's chairman and CEO until 2000, when Steve Ballmer took over as CEO. In 2000, Gates and his wife formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which now has assets of $29.1 billion.With Gates out of the day-to-day role, Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie, two chief technology officers at the company, will step up. Ozzie will take on the title of chief software architect and Mundie will become chief research and strategy officer.During the transitional period, Gates said he will increasingly take a back seat to Ozzie, who joined the company in April 2005 when Microsoft acquired Groove Networks. Prior to founding Groove, Ozzie was the founder and president of Iris Associates, where he created and led the initial development of Lotus Notes. Gates said Ozzie will work with him on all "architecture and product oversight responsibilities."Mundie will work with Gates to take over the responsibility for the company's research and incubation efforts, and will partner with general counsel Brad Smith to guide Microsoft's intellectual property and technology policy efforts. Mundie joined Microsoft in 1992 to create and run the consumer platforms division. He also helped start Microsoft's digital TV efforts. Previously, Mundie directed Microsoft's advanced strategies and policy department, focusing on security, privacy, telecommunications regulation, IP and software procurement standards.Mary Jo Foley wonders "Will Microsoft still be Microsoft without Gates? Or will it be as lame as Apple Computer without Steve Jobs, the Trump Organization without the Donald, or Martha Stewart Living without the queen of perfectly folded napkins?"Its an interesting question. It is an iconic loss. Gates was always enshrined in the public eye as the head man at Microsoft. However, is that really all that it is? Its a very different world than it was when he first set out, and you have to wonder how much of a creative input he still retained.   
  Good for Bill. I think Mary Jo Foley wishes she could write about Brittney Spears for People magazine, I mean, the Steve Jobs comparison is appropriate, but Donald Trump and Martha Stewart? Why not toss Mark Cuban in there too?   ;  I think Microsoft has long since ceased to be a company defined by a single visionary. At least at the developer level, there are plenty of bright bulbs: Anders Hejlsberg, Raymond Chen, et cetera.   ;  So what exactly is he gonna do with all that money? Give to charities? Hopefully not. a) he's doing that now. b) that seems too bland for Bill anyway.   ;Quote:Original post by Alpha_ProgDesSo what exactly is he gonna do with all that money?Am I the only one who thinks he's going to try to cyborgize himself and attack Google HQ (which is defended by a large platoon of AI bots which are hidden, ready to attack several hundred meters beneath the megaplex) in a final philantropic attempt to rout Google's plans for world domination?!   ;Quote:Original post by kSquaredI think Microsoft has long since ceased to be a company defined by a single visionary. At least at the developer level, there are plenty of bright bulbs: Anders Hejlsberg, Raymond Chen, et cetera.Maybe outwardly, but at Microsoft there is very much a Cult Of Bill. He's one of the few remaining superstar chairmen. I would say he's miles beyond Steve Jobs in that respect. I wonder what effect his leaving will have on the company morale.   ;  I know this is a bit off topic, but I think it would be incredibly cool to sit down and have lunch with Bill Gates.  Not because he has piles of money, but just to meet the guy, and perhaps get my picture with him (not that he is some sort of circus attraction or anything).  I just think it would be cool to meet the guy.   ;Quote:Original post by MushuQuote:Original post by Alpha_ProgDesSo what exactly is he gonna do with all that money?Am I the only one who thinks he's going to try to cyborgize himself and attack Google HQ (which is defended by a large platoon of AI bots which are hidden, ready to attack several hundred meters beneath the megaplex) in a final philantropic attempt to rout Google's plans for world domination?!Yes, you're the only one who thinks so. [grin];  I think it's great of Bill, he's probably deep down a really great guy. I've turned into somewhat of a Microsoft fan boy after having started university and seen the crazy Linux fans. And with the free release of Visual Studio Express edition, yehaa!/MindWipe   ;  He hasn't left the company, just won't be bogged down with the day to day stuff.  I doubt that MS will change, and if it does, he would probably come back and smack everyone into shape.  But as people mentioned, MS is hardly just Bill Gates anymore.   