Steve Ballmer has officially stepped down from the Microsoft board of directors after resigning from the company six months back as CEO in February this year. Ballmer announced the exit from the Board via a letter to his successor Satya Nadella.
“First, Microsoft has been my life’s work and I am proud of that and excited by what I see in front of the company and this leadership team. There are challenges ahead but the opportunities are even larger. No company in the world has the mix of software skills, cloud skills, and hardware skills we have assembled. 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. You’re off to a bold and exciting start. ”
said Ballmer in the letter to Satya Nadela posted on Microsoft’s website.
Ballmer cited his new, post-Microsoft commitments, including his recent $2 billion purchase of the N.B.A. Team Los Angeles Clippers, civic contribution, teaching an study taking as reasons for the departure. He further noted in the letter that he currently stands as Microsoft’s largest individual shareholder and doesn’t anticipate that changing. His shares amount to 3.99 percent of the company and are worth more than $15 billion.
“I bleed Microsoft — have for 34 years and I always will,” Ballmer wrote. “Count on me to keep ideas and inputs flowing. The company will move to higher heights. I will be proud, and I will benefit through my share ownership.”
concluded Ballmer in the letter.