Recent reports have claimed that three out of 20 top Microsoft investors are pressurising Bill Gates to step down as the chairman of the software giant. Gates founded the company 38 years ago and for the first time ever, some major investors are asking him to leave his position at Microsoft.
For many years, the Chief Executive of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer has been under a lot of pressure to increase the performance, as well as share price of the company. Gates is considered to be one of the most respected and well-known figures in the world of technology. On October 1, 2013, a representative from Microsoft refused to comment on the issue.
So far, it is not clear if the company will respond to the demands of the three investors, who together hold 5 percent of the company’s stock and their identity is also kept anonymous. Bill Gates is the largest individual shareholder of the company, as he owns about 4.5 percent of Microsoft’s stock.
The investors have expressed their concern that the presence of Gates on the board will stop the adoption of new strategies and will also limit the authority of a new chief executive to make the necessary changes. Gates lowered his part at Microsoft and handed over the role of the CEO to Ballmer in 2000.
Photo Credits: Zimbio
