Microsoft founder Bill Gates will step down as a board member of the tech company, he announced Friday. He wants to spend more time on philanthropic activities such as world health, education and climate change.
Gates will remain involved with Microsoft as an advisor to the current chairman of the board Satya Nadella.
In 2008 Gates started working less at Microsoft to spend more time on philanthropy. Until 2014, he was subsequently chairman of the board of directors. Since that year he is no longer chairman, but he remained a board member.
Gates co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen, who passed away in 2018. The company grew into the most successful internet company of the 1980s and 1990s. For a long time, Gates was the richest man in the world.
Gates is also likely to retire from Berkshire Hathaway, investor Warren Buffet’s fund, which he has held since 2004.
– .
