June 24, 2008
A HARVARD University dropout who ushered in the home computer age and made billions of dollars along the way will have his last official day of work at Microsoft on June 27.
Three people will essentially fill the void left when Bill Gates retires from the company he and friend Paul Allen co-founded in 1975.Since Gates began his transition from leading Microsoft to heading his personally bankrolled charity, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, his job as chief software architect has been handled by Ray Ozzie.
Craig Mundie inherited Gates' chief research and strategy officer duties, while former Harvard classmate Steve Ballmer became chief executive at the Seattle-based software colossus.
Gates left Harvard after two years to found the firm that became the global powerhouse, Microsoft.
He later received honorary degrees from Harvard and other universities.
After retiring Gates will remain chairman of the Microsoft board of directors and be its largest shareholder.
"I don't think anything is going to drastically change the day he leaves," Directions on Microsoft analyst Matt Rosoff said.
"If he thinks something is important and he tells Steve Ballmer, Ballmer will listen to him."
Still, Gates' bespectacled, nerdish visage is an integral part of Microsoft's image and his departure is symbolic, according to analysts.
"The challenge Microsoft has when the founder departs is remembering its heart," Enderle Group analyst Rob Enderle said.
"At some point the firm has to take the essence of what made Bill Gates successful and make sure that is preserved.
"Whether it is a company or a person, once you've lost your heart there isn't much left but a shell."
AFP