A discussion about the software industry and their coders

Bill Gates will step down from day-to-day involvement at Microsoft in the next 2 years and will focus on charity work through his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. From July 2008 Bill Gates will become a part-time employee and stay as the Chairman of Microsoft Corp. (MSFT). Ray Ozzie and Craig Mundie will take over major roles that Bill Gates played and will report directly into Bill for the next two years.

Gates is immidiately relinquishing the post of Chief Software Architect and Ray Ozzie is stepping in his shoes. Ray Ozzie founded Iris Associates (acquired by IBM) and developed Lotus Notes. Ozzie joined Microsoft in April 2005, when Groove Networks, another company he founded got acquired by Microsoft.

Craig Mundie will take the role of Chief Research & Strategy Officer. Craig has worked with Microsoft since 1992 and has primarily worked on non-PC platforms & Services. According to the Press Release by Microsoft Corp. Mundie has been involved with:

Microsoft^® Windows^® CE operating system; software for handheld PCs, Pocket PCs and Auto PCs; and early telephony products. Mundie also started Microsoft’s digital TV efforts 

Bill Gates will transition out of a day-to-day role in Microsoft effective July 2008 to spend more time on his global health and education work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and will continue to serve as the company’s chairman and an advisor on key development projects. Ray Ozzie assumes the title of chief software architect and will begin working side by side with Gates on all technical architecture and product oversight responsibilities, while Craig Mundie takes the new title of chief research and strategy officer and will work closely with Gates to assume his responsibility for the company’s research and incubation efforts.

Continued: The Legacy of Bill Gates