Steve Ballmer leaves Microsoft board to concentrate on other responsibilities
Nearly six months after Steve Ballmer handed over the reins at Microsoft, the former CEO on Tuesday announced he is also resigning from the company's board, citing outside responsibilities like a new role as owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.
In a lengthy letter addressed to current Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, Ballmer extolled Microsoft's current leadership team, saying the new CEO is "off to a bold and exciting start." The resignation letter, full of buzzwords, was posted to Microsoft's website in full.
"No company in the world has the mix of software skills, cloud skills, and hardware skills we have assembled," Ballmer wrote. "We draw talent as well as any company in the world. We have the profitability to invest in long-term opportunities and still deliver superior shorter term performance."
Turning to his own future, Ballmer said outside duties have been taking up a good chunk of time, so much so that it would be "impractical" to continue on as a board member. One of the main reasons cited for the departure is a responsibility to the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, which he bought in May for $2 billion.
"In the six months since leaving, I have become very busy. I see a combination of the Clippers, civic contribution, teaching and study taking a lot of time," Ballmer wrote. "I have confidence in our approach of mobile-first, cloud-first, and in our primary innovation emphasis on platforms and productivity and the building of capability in devices and services as core business drivers."
Ballmer pointed out that he holds more shares of Microsoft than any one individual, excluding funds, and expects to stay in that position for the "foreseeable future." According to The New York Times, Ballmer's has a 3.99 percent stake in Microsoft with shares currently worth over $15 billion, more than company cofounder Bill Gates. Using the considerable sway, he intends to spur on Microsoft management and offer ideas and input going forward.
A response from Nadella -- also filled with neologisms -- is also included in the post and thanks Ballmer driving Microsoft to a "mobile-first, cloud-first world."
In a lengthy letter addressed to current Microsoft chief Satya Nadella, Ballmer extolled Microsoft's current leadership team, saying the new CEO is "off to a bold and exciting start." The resignation letter, full of buzzwords, was posted to Microsoft's website in full.
"No company in the world has the mix of software skills, cloud skills, and hardware skills we have assembled," Ballmer wrote. "We draw talent as well as any company in the world. We have the profitability to invest in long-term opportunities and still deliver superior shorter term performance."
Turning to his own future, Ballmer said outside duties have been taking up a good chunk of time, so much so that it would be "impractical" to continue on as a board member. One of the main reasons cited for the departure is a responsibility to the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, which he bought in May for $2 billion.
"In the six months since leaving, I have become very busy. I see a combination of the Clippers, civic contribution, teaching and study taking a lot of time," Ballmer wrote. "I have confidence in our approach of mobile-first, cloud-first, and in our primary innovation emphasis on platforms and productivity and the building of capability in devices and services as core business drivers."
Ballmer pointed out that he holds more shares of Microsoft than any one individual, excluding funds, and expects to stay in that position for the "foreseeable future." According to The New York Times, Ballmer's has a 3.99 percent stake in Microsoft with shares currently worth over $15 billion, more than company cofounder Bill Gates. Using the considerable sway, he intends to spur on Microsoft management and offer ideas and input going forward.
A response from Nadella -- also filled with neologisms -- is also included in the post and thanks Ballmer driving Microsoft to a "mobile-first, cloud-first world."
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I miss him already.
A response from Nadella -- also filled with neologisms -- is also included in the post and thanks Ballmer driving Microsoft to a "mobile-first, cloud-first world."
In other words, an "Apple-first, Google-first world."
Ballmer: "In Los Angeles 1+1 really equals 3. So in 2015 what's next? Players, players, players!! and of course!! Clippers, Clippers, Clippers!!"
This is great news for the Golden State Warriors.
And yet so little was achieved.
Does that mean management was the problem?
(>_<)
The best CEO there is.
(from Apple point of view)
Not the CEO Microsoft needs, but the one it deserves
Really? Does he really believe in that statement? If yes, the entire message makes no sense.
OT ... Is it just me or have all the emoticons turned into blue boxes with question marks?
In other words, an "Apple-first, Google-first world."
HA HA HA!
Or as I said, "Which is it? Mobile First? If Mobile is first, how can Cloud be first?"
I really hate that the "participation trophy" mentality appears to be taking over the business world, too. I see it in many companies.
The reality is this, if everyone wins, nobody wins. If everyone is special, then no one is special. If every product is first, nothing is first.
10 yrs too late.
Judging by his introduction to the Clippers it's going to be a lot of fun
I can see AAPL shares collapsing after this dreadful news.
/s
When asked about his decision:
Ballmer: "In Los Angeles 1+1 really equals 3. So in 2015 what's next? Players, players, players!! and of course!! Clippers, Clippers, Clippers!!"
I don't care for basketball, but Ballmer is one person who might make me a fan. I can only imagine some of the things he might come up with for post-game press conferences after the Clippers got their ass handed to them. The score was a rounding error...The Lakers are not a real team...