Bill Gates Stepping Down From Microsoft’s Board
SAN FRANCISCO — Bill Gates is stepping down from the board of Microsoft, the software giant he helped found more than four decades ago.
Mr. Gates said on Friday that he would also step down from the board of Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by his close friend, Warren E. Buffett.
“I have made the decision to step down from both of the public boards on which I serve — Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway — to dedicate more time to philanthropic priorities including global health and development, education, and my increasing engagement in tackling climate change,” Mr. Gates wrote in a LinkedIn post.
For decades, Mr. Gates was the face of Microsoft. Known for his technical acumen and ruthless business practices, he helped to establish Microsoft’s Windows software as the primary system for the personal computer. Microsoft said Mr. Gates would remain a technical adviser to the company.
Mr. Gates has slowly been stepping back from Microsoft in recent years. He left his day-to-day role at the company in 2008 and served as the board’s chairman until 2014.
The company said he wants to devote more of his time to his philanthropy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s biggest nonprofit organizations, which was started with the billions of dollars he made from Microsoft.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.