The Tech Billionaire and a Philanthropist, Bill Gates, steps down from his executive role at Microsoft Board, the company he co-founded in 1975 and built into the world’s largest software maker, to focus more on philanthropy, global health, development, education and tackling climate change.
Bill Gates was CEO of Microsoft until 2000 when Steve Ballmer took over the role and has held a not too active role since 2008. He served as CEO of Microsoft until 2000, the same year his foundation was started, and was chairman of the company until February 2014. Now Gates is the world’s second richest man with a net worth of $106.7 billion steps down as a board member in Warren Buffett’s company, Berkshire Hathaway.
Gates and Buffett, 89, have been friends for years. Gates joined Berkshire’s board in late 2004 and their bond grew stronger in 2006 when Buffett said he would plan to give away the bulk of his fortune to charitable groups including the Gates Foundation. Buffett and Gates, both billionaires, have continued to push for more philanthropic efforts among the wealthiest, with initiatives such as “The Giving Pledge.”
According to his post on LinkedIn, he made the decision to step down from both of the public boards on which he served – Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway – to dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and tackling climate change.
“The leadership at the Berkshire companies and Microsoft has never been stronger, so the time is right to take this step. The company would “always be an important part of my life’s work” and he would continue to be engaged with its leadership.” He wrote
He continued, “With respect to Microsoft, stepping down from the board in no way means stepping away from the company,” Gates said. “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.”
“He leaves an enduring legacy of curiosity and insight that serves as an inspiration for us all,” Microsoft chairman John Thompson said in the company statement.
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