13th March, 2020
US Billionaire Bill Gates is set to step down from Microsoft Board.
This was confirmed in a statement released by the US tech giant on Friday.
Gates who co-founded Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975 will now dedicate more time to other priorities, including global health, education, and issues connected with mitigating climate change.
Microsoft also stated that Bill Gates will keep his post as Technology Advisor to the company’s CEO Satya Nadella and other board members.
“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. 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”, Nadella said in the statement.
Gates’ departure means the board will consist of 12 members.
In 2008, Gates stepped down as Microsoft head to concentrate on his charitable foundation.
Gates served as Microsoft’s chairman of the board until 2014.
Gates, the co-founder of US technology giant Microsoft, is currently the world’s second-richest man according to Forbes magazine.