End of an Era as Gates relinquishes control of Microsoft
In yet another advantage to being Bill Gates, the Microsoft president has created a new title for himself-Chairman and Chief Software Architect. Coinciding with the release of Windows 2000, Steve Ballmer will take over management of the company as president and CEO,.
"These are dramatic times in our industry, said Gates. "Steve's promotion will allow me to dedicate myself full-time to my passion -- building great software and strategizing on the future."
Gates also indicated that Ballmer would become a member of the Microsoft Corp. Board of Directors effective January 27.
"I am very excited and very honored," said Ballmer. "These are amazing times full of remarkable opportunities. Microsoft has all of the right stuff -- great people and great technology -- to dramatically take action on a new strategy that builds on the company's heritage of applying software know-how to the new world of software services -- a world we will pioneer along with our partners.
"Software is the key to the future. It will drive and accelerate innovations in hardware, wireless, broadband, e-commerce and other fields. Our vision is to create a new services platform that will ignite new opportunities for literally thousands of partners and customers around the world," Ballmer said.