A portion of Microsoft investors might not be glad with the idea of Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer continuing to guide Microsoft after drawing back from the CEO role, but it seems likely that both will continue to do just that. According to Reuters next month November 19th, company shareholders will vote on the new board of directors, and today the board has recommended that both Gates and Ballmer be re-elected to their positions there.
Since 1981 Gates has served on the board of directors, and is presently the company’s largest individual shareholder with 4.52 percent of the company’s stock. Ballmer joined the board in 2000 when he became CEO, and holds 3.99 percent.
All other directors hold less than 1 percent of the company at present, though investment firm BlackRock has 5.57 percent. If they stand together, Gates and Ballmer could still wield a substantial amount of power at the company. We only hope Microsoft will invent the next big thing with these two still on the board.
