News
Allen to Leave Microsoft Board
- By Scott Bekker
- September 29, 2000
Paul Allen, who founded the software dynasty known as Microsoft Corp. with
his friend Bill Gates 25 years ago, will resign from corporation's board of
directors at its annual meeting on November 9.
According to its annual meeting proxy statement filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, Allen will remain with
Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) as a
senior strategy advisor, particularly to Gates and Steven Ballmer, Microsoft's
president and CEO. Also departing the board on Nov. 9 will be Richard Hackborn,
a board member since 1994, who recently stepped down as chairman at
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP, www.hp.com).
Allen left his duties as head of research and product development at
Microsoft in 1982 to battle Hodgkins disease, but retained his seat on the
board and his position as the company's second-largest stockholder. He has
since invested in more than 140 technology companies through his investment
speculation firm, Vulcan Ventures, Inc. He also is one of the owners of the
Seattle Seahawks of the NFL and the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. Allen is
listed by Forbes Magazine as the third richest man in the world behind Gates
and Larry Ellison, chairman of Oracle Corp. (www.oracle.com).
Allen is credited with being instrumental in developing some of Microsoft's
most successful products, including MS-DOS, Word, Windows and the Microsoft
Mouse. Microsoft will not replace Allen or Hackborn on its board and will
reduce the body structure from eight to six members. - Ted Williams
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.