Bill Gates co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft announced that he is stepping down from the Microsoft Board. In a press release, he said that he is doing this because he wants to “dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities.” Although he will continue to serve as the “technology advisor” to current CEO Satya Nadella.
“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.”
He also said, “With respect to Microsoft, stepping down from the board in no way means stepping away from the company. Microsoft will always be an important part of my life’s work and I will continue to be engaged with Satya and the technical leadership to help shape the vision and achieve the company’s ambitious goals. I feel more optimistic than ever about the progress the company is making and how it can continue to benefit the world.”
The current CEO of Microsoft, Nadella commented in a statement. “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.”
Bill Gates Served as the CEO of Microsoft until 2000. He stepped down from the position to focus on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and philanthropy.