Booting programme: Gates steps down as Microsoft chairman, Nadella named new CEO

Gates "will devote more time to the company" in his new role as "founder and technology advisory".


Reuters/afp February 04, 2014
Nadella is only the third CEO in Microsoft's history. PHOTO: FILE

WASHINGTON: Microsoft said Tuesday founder Bill Gates would step down as chairman and assume a new role as "founder and technology advisory" as insider Satya Nadella was named chief executive.

Gates "will devote more time to the company" in his new role as the tech giant moves to transform itself amid a changing landscape in the world of computing, the company said.

India-born Satya Nadella has been announced as Microsoft’s next chief executive officer, ending a longer-than-expected search for a new leader after Steve Ballmer announced his intention to retire in August.

Nadella is only the third CEO in Microsoft's 39-year history, following co-founder Bill Gates and Ballmer.

“Our industry does not respect tradition - it only respects innovation,” Nadella says. “The opportunity ahead for Microsoft is vast, but to seize it, we must move faster, focus and continue to transform. I see a big part of my job as accelerating our ability to bring innovative products to our customers more quickly.”

Microsoft also announced that John Thompson, lead independent director, will succeed Gates as chairman. Gates will assume a new role as "technology advisor," the company said in a statement.

Shares of the world's largest software maker edged higher in premarket trading.

COMMENTS (22)

unbelievable | 10 years ago | Reply

@Raja:

Indians are able to compete with western and achieve greater heights. .> Proud to be INDIAN . I suspect he's proud to be an American citizen where he was educated and given job opportunities which were apparently unavailable in India. In the USA it doesn't matter where your born, your skin color, religion etc - it's your talent, drive/determination that counts.

Salman | 10 years ago | Reply

Dear Indians, Though it's surprising to see your majority on Pakistani new site (it shows how desperate you are to know about pakistan), Nadella is an American and it's not surprising to see him as next CEO of microsoft. But Microsoft was founded by Gates, this would surely be the end of microsoft. Also, don't forget that pakistan holds world records for most no. of A's in A levels and O levels in cambridge examinations, no indian was able to do that. And those pakistani's aren't even U.S citizens.

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