Actually, he's not officially with Microsoft anymore after stepping down as CEO in 2008, even making the surprisingly entertaining video below (I purposely chose this version with the less-than-stellar audio so you could hear the audience reaction).
Even so, he is still the chairman and on the board of directors, but some of the top shareholders are asking, now that Microsoft co-founder and current CEO Steve Ballmer has announced his own retirement, that Bill Gates step down fully as well. They feel that Microsoft is too far behind its competitors in the expanding mobile space, and with Bill Gates and Ballmer in the position to essentially voir dire any potential successor that my want to head Microsoft down a different path, they need to be out completely.
I suspect this won't happen, and I'm torn on the issue either way. Apple just isn't the same company without Steve Jobs, and I'm a big fan of Microsoft, they gave us standards that allowed computing and technology to expand into the global driving powerhouse it is today, but I also see the need for flexibility in thought and the ability to take risks and expand into new markets. Of course, when they've done that in the past, they didn't have the marketing to back it up. Remember Zune?
Thank you for sharing this video! It was hilarious! I do agree that in order to stimulate a change, Gates and Ballmer should be out of the picture for the most part. Sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes and ears to incite change, whether that change is positive or negative is to be determined.
ReplyDeleteWhile it might be great for Gates & Ballmer to not be involved with Microsoft, it could also be a recipe for disaster. Like you said, Apple's much different without Jobs (although it’s still very, very successful), Microsoft would, inevitably, be different without Gates. I’m rooting for them & do think they need to step their game up a little, try something new & be creative! But, if Microsoft does go down a different path they kind of have to know for sure it’ll work (might be impossible?). If not, they may find themselves even farther behind their competitors & unable to ever fully recover.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Bill Gates stepping down is the answer to Microsofts' problems. Regardless of who's involved with the company, innovation is a must.
ReplyDeleteI believe Gates and Ballmer stepping down is the right thing to do. As much as we would like to believe otherwise people sometimes are adverse to change in their case they are used to having a particular objective which they might tend to circumnavigate. Stepping down and having new people with a fresh new perspective to take over with guarantee new growth and sustainability.
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