Like him or, er... not, it's hard to argue otherwise that Sir Bill has had a profound effect in shaping the current ways of the World.
For those that can remember the time Pre-Windows (and I have to confess I'm one ;-) it was hard to imagine then that one Operating System could come to so dominate the world of computing, and with it, the basis of much of our modern society.
Little wonder, then that he feels that "the world has had a tendency to focus a disproportionate amount of attention on me."
Could be something to do with being the World's Richest Man, too ;-)
Announcing the two-year transition process to a 'part-time' role within Microsoft Corporation, the company said that after July 2008 Gates would remain as the chairman and an advisor on key development projects.
He leaves to spend more time on global health & education work at the $29 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, formed with his wife in 2000.
Current CEO Steve Ballmer will remain, and Microsoft announced that "Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie will immediately assume the title of chief software architect and begin working side by side with Gates on all technical architecture and product oversight responsibilities, to ensure a smooth transition. Similarly, Chief Technical Officer Craig Mundie will immediately take the new title of chief research and strategy officer and will work closely with Gates to assume his responsibility for the company’s research and incubation efforts".
So the message seems to be "steady as (s)he goes, the baby's in safe hands". They were careful to make the announcement after the markets had closed, though ;-)
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