Credit due as Microsoft’s Gates steps down

Bill Gates has worked his last full day at the software giant he formed in 1975, so there is no better time to reflect on the industry’s original ‘Über Nerd’.

With intent to stay on as chairman and advisor at Microsoft, alongside concentrating on the work of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, few can deny the 52-year-old his swan song.

At an event at Microsoft’s headquarters campus recently, Gates, who will become a non-executive chairman and work part-time, joined chief executive Steve Ballmer on stage to deliver a short speech and field questions from employees.

“There won’t be a day in my life that I’m not thinking about Microsoft and the great things that it’s doing and wanting to help,” said Gates, who wiped away tears as the group of employees rose to give him a standing ovation.

Ballmer, a Harvard University classmate who joined Microsoft at Gates’ behest, got choked up as he tried to describe Gates’ impact on the company and society at large.

“There’s no way to say thanks to Bill. Bill’s the founder. Bill’s the leader,” said Ballmer. “We’ve been given an enormous, enormous opportunity and it was Bill who gave us this opportunity.”

Gates will leave behind a life’s work developing software to devote energy to finding new vaccines or to microfinance projects in the developing world. Once the world’s richest man, Gates’ personal fortune has been estimated at about US$58 billion, according to Forbes magazine. He has slipped to third place, behind investor and good friend Warren Buffett and Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim.

After 33 years, Gates said he sometimes finds himself lost in thought, driving to Microsoft without realising it. He also said he will move out of his corner office – making way for Ballmer – into a smaller area one floor below.

“I am sure there will be some day next month where I start thinking about software and I will start driving here to Microsoft, go up to the fifth floor and walk down to my office and they will be remodelling it,” said Gates with a chuckle.

So what does everyone think of Gates? Personally I think it is almost too easy to have a dig at Gates. A hugely successful businessman and the creator of a near monopolising IT giant leaves many turning green with envy and makes Gates ripe for pot shots.

Microsoft has also had its fair share of legal issues, including in 2000 when a judgment in the case of United States v Microsoft, called the company an “abusive monopoly” and forced it to split into two separate units.

Gates and Microsoft are the key figureheads which have built the IT to its current stature. How many resellers have built successful businesses around Microsoft offerings? In fact, how many have managed not to? The Gates brainchild is core to almost everything achieved in the current IT landscape. Is Microsoft just a bullying force, with Gates the lead ogre? It is an aggressive and ambitious firm, but look at any successful business, regardless of size, and you will find this ethos present.

His IT achievements aside, since its 2000 interception the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has chalked up total grant commitments of US$16.5 billion. With a willingness to further concentrate on his work with the foundation, Gates is likely to augment this figure much further.

Credit where credit is due. Gates has done wonders for the IT industry and contributed huge sums to charity.

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