Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft’s annual proxy filing, made to the Securities and Exchange Commission, reveals that Chairman Bill Gates and outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer are both seeking re-election to the company’s board. The move might not sit well with investors who have reportedly tried to reduce the influence both personalities wield over the company, Reuters reports. Back in August, Steve Ballmer announced that he would be giving up the top slot at Redmond within 12 months. Gates has been out of that chair for a long time, though he has remained at the board since 1981, and is also the largest individual shareholder of Microsoft, owing 4.52 percent.

Steve Ballmer joined Microsoft’s board of directors over a decade ago, when he was given the top job. Apart from BlackRock, an investment firm that holds 5.57 percent of Microsoft shares, all the other directors hold less than 1 percent. Ballmer has 3.99 percent, so he and Gates will continue to have an influence if they’re re-elected to the board on November 19th, at Microsoft’s annual shareholders meeting. Recently it was reported that top Microsoft investors have lobbied to push Gates to step down as chairman of the board, apparently they see his presence as a hurdle in the way of fundamental change at the company. Microsoft hasn’t commented if something of this nature has happened, and Gates himself has not dropped any hints that he intends to step away from the company he co-founded with Paul Allen nearly 38 years ago. As it stands, Microsoft hasn’t nominated Ballmer’s successor. Names of potential candidates have been thrown around a lot, but no one has been finalized as yet.

Bill Gates And Steve Ballmer Seek Re-Election To Microsoft’s Board original content from Ubergizmo.

Bill Gates regrets it, Windows users generally hate it, and its become computing shorthand for hitting reset on a bad idea, but Ctrl+Alt+Del wasn’t always a bad idea. The much-maligned key combo came in for some criticism by the former Microsoft CEO at an interview this week, with Gates questioning “Who’s idea was that?” and […]

The keyboard combo that is Control-Alt-Delete may have become iconic—but according to Bill Gates it was all just a big mistake.

Read more…

One thing’s for sure: we’ll certainly miss keynote dances and chants of, “Developers! Developers! Developers!” when Steve Ballmer steps down from his job as the head of Microsoft some time within the next 12 months — no matter who the John Thompson-chaired succession committee picks to fill his shoes. There aren’t a ton of details regarding the decision at the moment — though a press release issued by the company (which you can find in all of PR speak glory below) is certainly positioning the move as voluntary on Ballmer’s part, stating that the exec, “has decided to retire.”

No direct replacement has been lined up, and as such, he’ll remain on-board as CEO until the committee finds the right person. Along with Thompson, Bill Gates, Chuck Noski and Steve Luczo will also take part in the search. Gates had some nice things to say about his successor and old pal, “We’re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO assumes these duties.” For his part, Ballmer continues to sound bullish when it comes to the company’s future, “there is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company’s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.”

Update: Well, ask and ye shall receive. Just like that, Microsoft has revealed Ballmer’s “internal email” to the staff. We’ve included that below, just under the aforementioned press release. The opening of the letter is comprised of the same quote Microsoft issued in this morning’s release, as well as, interestingly, a link to press release itself. Ballmer goes on to praise current senior leadership and adds that the company has managed to balloon from “$7.5 million to nearly $78 billion,” since the 30 staff member days when he first joined up. The note doesn’t shed much more additional light on any future plans, though the executive does add that he will “[continue] as one of Microsoft’s largest owners.” The exit, he explains is “emotional” and “difficult.” No doubt there will be much dancing and shouting in the months to come.

Update 2: The Seattle Times scored interviews with Ballmer and Thompson, revealing a couple of tidbits. First, Thompson notes that the CEO will, indeed, have some input on choosing his successor. In fully reflective mode, Ballmer (not shockingly, perhaps) admits that Vista was his biggest disappointment during his tenure. He also added that he plans to stay in Seattle post-retirement, so that tropical island paradise will have to wait. Also, as plenty have noted before us, the Wall Street reaction to news has been been initially fairly positive, so read into that what you will.

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Displays, Gaming, Laptops, Peripherals, Tablets, Software, HD, Mobile, Microsoft

Comments

Bill Gates has been known for his philanthropic efforts, having spent his time and millions, if not billions, of his money to help improve living conditions around the world, especially in developing countries. While that is certainly a noble effort on his part, it seems that he also expects people and companies of his position and status to do the same thing, to the point where he has recently criticized Google for being carrying out more philanthropic activities.

Speaking to Bloomberg in an interview, Gates was quoted as saying, “Google started out saying they were going to do a broad set of things. They hired Larry Brilliant, and they got fantastic publicity. And then they shut it all down. Now they’re just doing their core thing. Fine. But the actors who just do their core thing are not going to uplift the poor.” Gates also went on to criticize Google’s plan to introduce balloons that will provide internet saying that providing internet will not help a child suffering from diarrhea or malaria. What do you guys think? Does Google deserve to be taking flack from Bill Gates just because he does not think they are as philanthropic as he is?

Bill Gates Criticizes Google For Not Doing Enough Philanthropic Work original content from Ubergizmo.