Bill Gates announced Thursday he will step down as chief executive of
Microsoft. Company President Steve Ballmer will take over the CEO
role. Speaking at a news conference in Redmond, Washington, Gates
+said he will continue to act as chairman of the software giant. He
will also assume the role of "chief software architect."
Gates said his "commitment to working full-time" for the company
remains "100 percent," but that it was time for the management
structure to evolve.
Calling the move "a very exciting evolution for me," Gates cited his
25 years as CEO of the company he co-founded in January 1975 as a
reason for him to take what he called "the next step."
Gates said his new role as chief software architect will be to focus
on future technologies, +helping the company make the right strategic
bets for the future. Although he enjoyed running the day-to-day
operations, Gates said, this move will get him back to the role he
truly cherishes.
Ballmer said Microsoft will continue major product and services
initiatives now underway.
"I'm just very appreciative for the opportunity," he said.
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