Microsoft Corp (NYSE:MSFT)’s Steve Ballmer Resigns From Executive Board

Steve Ballmer is now the former chief executive officer of Microsoft Corp (NYSE:MSFT). A few hours ago the 58 year old native of Hunts Points, Washington announced that he will be stepping down from the tech company’s executive board after a 14 year long period of service, and more than 30 years of association with the largest software company in the world.

Mr. Ballmer disclosed his resignation through an internal letter to the company’s CEO, Satya Nadella. He said the he believed that it would be illogical for him to continue to serve in his position on the board, and it is in his best interest to move on and exit the company. This letter was published by Microsoft on its website just a few hours ago on Tuesday, August 19^th.

The former chief executive officer just recently purchased professional basketball team, the Los Angeles Clippers, for $2 billion, and appeared before fans and the team yesterday as he was introduced as the new owner of the team. In his letter, he points to the combination of civic duty, teaching and studying, his new acquisition of the Clippers to be taking a lot of his time.

The announcement of Mr. Ballmer’s exit from the tech company is the final piece to complete a shift in power at the software and cloud computing company. For the past 39 years, the company has been run by Mr. Bill Gates or Mr. Steve Ballmer. Mr. Ballmer’s announcement is a dramatic shift in power to Satya Nadella. Mr. Gates stepped down as the company’s chairman when Mr. Nadella was promoted to the position of CEO in the company.

Mr. Ballmer will still hold the position of company director at Microsoft. While it is unclear how long he will keep that position, it seems that due to Mr. Ballmer’s position as a majority shareholder in the company, he has many reasons to stay and remain involved in the company. However, people familiar with the matter say that it is unlikely that Mr. Ballmer will stay, and will likely give up his seat on the executive board soon.

Microsoft has been going through more changes recently. Last month, the software company named John Stanton, the head of the company’s wireless department, to a member of the company’s executive board. In the first half of this year in March, Steve Luzo, a member of the executive board, gave up his position in the company. In February, Mr. Bill Gates stepped down as chairman and was replaced by John Thompson, an independent director with no prior affiliation with the company. Microsoft also acquired Mason Morfit, an activist investor from ValueAct Holdings, to its board earlier this year.