BILL GATES WILL SEMI-RETIRE

Gates Announces Semi-Retirement
Jason Lee Miller | Staff Writer

It’ll take two men to fill Bill Gate’s shoes at Microsoft. In a
surprise announcement late yesterday, the behemoth software company
chairman, whose Windows operating system changed the face of personal
computing, said he would "transition" out of a day-to-day role in the
company so he could more intensely focus on charity work.

Not only will it take two men, Chief Technical Officers Ray Ozzie
and Craig Mundie to take on Gates’ responsibility, but they will be
learning the ropes of the world’s premiere company over a two-year
period. By July 2008, Ozzie will assume the title of chief software
architect; Mundie will be the newly created chief research and
strategy officer while partnering with general counsel Brad Smith
to guide Microsoft’s property and technology policy efforts.

Though Gates will continue to serve as the company’s chairman and
advisor on key development projects, but the majority of his time will
be devoted to global health and education, the focus of Gates’
nonprofit Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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"This was a hard decision for me," Gates added. "I’m very lucky to
have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging.
As I prepare for this change, I firmly believe the road ahead for
Microsoft is as bright as ever." Gates said. "I remain fully
committed and full time at Microsoft through June 2008 and will be
working side by side with Ray and Craig to ensure that a smooth
transition occurs."

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 Ballmer took over as CEO. For
the past six years Gates has focused on Microsoft’s software
development as the company’s chairman and chief software architect.
In 2000, with his wife, he formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
whose assets now are $29.1 billion.

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SFor an idea of what a profitable investment was when Microsoft went
public, a $5000 investment in 1986 would be worth millions today.

In January 2000, Gates transferred the daily activities and the title
of CEO to Steve Ballmer to assume the role of chief software
architect. Ozzie and Mundie are the latest stage of an expansion of
leadership and transfer of power.

"This is a very sensible and thorough approach. A two-year transition
will ensure that the company has a smooth transfer of strategy and
knowledge from Bill to the next generation of leaders," said James
I. Cash, Ph.D., member of the Microsoft board of directors and former
James E. Robison Professor, Harvard Business School. "Steve and his
management team are very impressive, and I’m confident the company
will not miss a step."