Microsoft announced that Bill Gates is leaving the board of directors.
Microsoft Corporation announced that Co-Founder Bill Gates stepped down from the company’s Board of Directors to dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities. He is also stepping down from his position on the board of Berkshire Hathaway.
Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, who died in 2018. Gates was CEO until 2000 when Steve Ballmer took over the role. Microsoft’s current CEO, Satya Nadella, took over in 2014. Despite the announcement, he will continue to serve as Technology Advisor to Nadella and other company leaders.
According to The Verge, this move marks the furthest step away from running Microsoft that Gates has taken yet since he gave up the role of CEO back in 2008.
“I have made the decision to step down from both of the public boards on which I serve – Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway – to dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and my increasing engagement in tackling climate change,” Gates wrote on LinkedIn. “The leadership at the Berkshire companies and Microsoft has never been stronger, so the time is right to take this step.”
“It’s been a tremendous honor and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years. Bill founded our company with a belief in the democratizing force of software and a passion to solve society’s most pressing challenges. And Microsoft and the world are better for it. The board has benefited from Bill’s leadership and vision. And Microsoft will continue to benefit from Bill’s ongoing technical passion and advice to drive our products and services forward. I am grateful for Bill’s friendship and look forward to continuing to work alongside him to realize our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “On behalf of our shareholders and the Board, I want to express my deep appreciation to Bill for all his contributions to Microsoft,” he concluded.
