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 behind when Bill Gates retires from the company he and friend Paul Allen co-founded in 1975.
Since Gate's 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 Gate's chief research and strategy officer duties, while former Harvard classmate Steve Ballmer became chief executive officer at the Seattle-based software colossus.
Gates left Harvard after two years to found the firm that became 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 its largest shareholder.
It is obviously an end of era, a baby boomers era wherein Gates proved to the world despite being a university drop out he can mastermind a golaith. It also proves a point, that despite lack of education degree one can rule the roost provided he has focus and determination to move moutains.
Strategy is all about step by step building process to strengthen a brand. MS has been leading the cutting edge technology for the past 3 decades. Now the competition has strongly reared its hood and seems to be swamping MS. Apple with its wonderful browser Mac will be choice of future generation, Google with its search engine and strategic tie with Yahoo will spearhead Networking, Linux will a platform for software companies. MS wants to outdate XP and replace with Vista. In gaming front XBOX has yet to yield profits, whereas Sega is ruling the roost.
Gates has lost the steam to run cyber world will be apt description, obviously if one senses that stock markets are going to wipe out the hard earned reputation. One has to definitely encash the brand equity at the right time. Maybe the funds obtained can be used for Gates foundation in a nobler manner.
Goodbye Gates, we will always remember that you opened the WINDOW of opportunity now it is for the new generation to take over. You have inspired the generation of the past, and will continue to inspire Generation next.......through your foundation.
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