A Steve in command at Microsoft
16 Jun 2006
Microsoft, however, seems to be waging a losing battle with competitors, including Google and Yahoo, in the internet space. It has also been delaying the launch of its latest Windows version.
Gates will hand over his title of chief software architect to software service chief Ray Ozzie while chief technical officer Craig Mundie will become the new chief research and strategy officer.
Gates will step back from his routine work at the software giant from July 2008 as he shifts focus to the Gates Foundation. "It's not a retirement, it's a reordering of priorities," Gates said.
The foundation owns nearly $30 billion in assets and has spent billions of dollars on healthcare, education, poverty alleviation and giving access to information technologies the world over. Its new priorities include global health, global development and the US operations.
The foundation, too, is currently witnessing top-level changes. While Cheryl Scott will take over as chief operating officer of the foundation on June 26, Allen Golston will handle the US operations. Sylvia Mathews has been appointed president of global development.
Gates is more excited about the work of the foundation, which is growing rapidly and wants to replicate his entrepreneurial zeal into the business of philanthropy. The foundation's $1.5 billion investment in the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization has helped save an estimated 500,000 lives. But, Gates feels there is a lot more to do and the challenges are great.
Gates believes in reaching the benefits of technology to the masses. The new challenge, he said, is scaling up operations and finding new delivery systems and approaches that will benefit all. Both Gates and wife Melinda will increase their daily work with the foundation.
Microsoft stock which tumbled 16 per cent this year, fell another 11