14 DAY TRIAL // This way Microsoft's co-founder confirms his transition plan for 2008 when he will focus full time on Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Addressing a generic employee, Bill emphasizes the Redmond Company's growing trajectory, and his support for the duo that will replace him, Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie, reiterating his unconditional backing of CEO Steve Ballmer.
"Six years ago, Steve and I made a major transition when he stepped up to be CEO. He's done a fantastic job by every measure, whether it's the people he's brought in, the new ways he's running the company, or just the objective results - like doubling our revenue in six years. Steve has driven us to make bold bets on things like Xbox, Real Time Communications, business applications, IPTV, and many others including the Live platform. Steve is the best CEO I could imagine for Microsoft - he is changing the company in ways it needs to be changed," writes Bill Gates.
On a more personal note Bill says that the move is extremely difficult as he has had the best job in the world for 31 years according to him, a job that made all his philanthropic efforts possible. He ended by thanking all the great people whom he works and worked with at Microsoft.