Bill Gates to Transition Out of Day-to-Day Role with Microsoft

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 15, 2006 - 2:04pm.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft said on Thursday that co-founder Bill Gates will transition out of his day-to-day role with the company over the next two years. Gates, 50, who started Microsoft in 1975 with childhood friend Paul Allen, plans to spend more time on his global health and education work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an organization the couple founded in 2000 and which now has assets of $29.1 billion. After July 2008, Gates will continue to serve as the company's chairman, as well as an advisor on key development projects. In preparation, Microsoft has given expanded roles to top executives Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie. Ozzie will immediately assume the title of chief software architect and begin working alongside Gates on all technical architecture and product oversight issues. Mundie will take the new title of chief research and strategy officer, working closely with Gates to assume his responsibility for the company's research and incubation efforts. He also will partner with general counsel Brad Smith to guide Microsoft's intellectual property and technology policy efforts. Gates served as Microsoft's chairman and CEO until 2000, when Steve Ballmer took over as CEO. For the past six years, Gates has focused on the company's software development as chairman and chief software architect.

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