Bill Gates leaves Microsoft board

Microsoft on Friday announced that its co-founder Bill Gates has left its board of directors to devote more time to philanthropy. He served as chairman of Microsoft’s board of directors until 2014, but has now stepped away entirely.
“It’s been a tremendous honor and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years. Bill founded our company with a belief in the democratizing force of software and a passion to solve society’s most pressing challenges; and Microsoft and the world are better for it”, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said, adding that Gates would continue his role as a technical advisor.
Gates began programming as a 13-year-old student. He and his childhood friend Paul Allen co-founded Microsoft in 1975. It quickly became the world’s top software company. He stopped being involved in day-to-day operations at the company more than a decade ago, to focus on the humanitarian foundation he launched with his wife, Melinda.
Last month, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed up to $100 million for the global response to the new coronavirus outbreak. The foundation said it would direct $20 million to organizations like the WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Protection, the National Health Commission of China and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gates left his CEO position in 2000, passing the company reins to Steve Ballmer. In 2014, he gave up the role of chairman at the same time Nadella became Microsoft’s third CEO.
“I am grateful for Bill’s friendship and look forward to continuing to work alongside him,” Nadella said.