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Microsoft Office chief to manage Bill Gates

Well, his foundation

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Jeff Raikes is to captain Bill and Melinda Gates' massive global philanthropic operation, just months after announcing his phased resignation from Microsoft.

Raikes, a Microsoft veteran of 27 years, has been named chief executive of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest philanthropic organization, managing $37bn in endowments and $3bn each year in grants.

Raikes announced in January he'd be leaving Microsoft in September, with his post of president of Microsoft's business division being taken over by former Juniper Networks' chief operating officer Stephen Elop. At the time, Raikes said he remained committed to Microsoft and would work full time until September.

In his post, Raikes oversaw Office, server and tools and business solutions. It was in Office, though, that Raikes really made his name, having driven product strategy and design for Office, securing the suite's massive footprint. Microsoft's business division is today a $4.6b annual business.

Raikes apparently beat 150 candidates from politics, academia and business to land his new post.

Melinda Gates described Raikes in a statement as a "trusted and respected leader" who is right to "lead the strategies we have in place to help reduce inequities in the United States and around the world." Billo - whose own slow withdrawal from day-to-day activities at Microsoft finishes in July - said he was "excited" to be working with Raikes again.®

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Latest Comments

@Peter Gray

The cost to humanity of his "generosity" has been enormous and uncounted. By monopolizing the PC OS market by criminal (such was the verdict of the US court) tactics he set the development and utilization of the PC back, in my opinion, by between 5 and 10 years.

Hubris is never a good fountain of charity. The ethical approach is not to be found in the B-school manuals, let alone Buffett's stamping-ground of the NYSE or the USA-legal thinking of BG's father who master-minded the original Windows-licensing policies that proliferated the presence of Windows simply because few people saw the advantage of paying extra for the OS they wanted since they couldn't get a refund for the one they didn't want.

If his foundation is not benefiting M$ to a great degree, albeit indirectly, I will be amazed.

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One bad turn deserves a good truth

I can appreciate Bill's generosity with regards to the poor, and I can criticise his bad choice in morals in business.

I don't need to pick sides to understand when he gives and when he takes. I'm more interested in his personal philosophy, does this man really think that nothing good can come about without business money? Inquiring minds want to know.

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Re: not since

Have to agree with AC here. I do not like Bill Gates, nor his software, but the man puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to charity. Far better that it goes to help others then sit in a vault doing nothing.

His software may suck, his business ethics may be questionable (at best), but the man has saved and improved life for far more people than I will ever meet.

So you can hate the man, but give respect the work his foundation is doing - everyone else who reads this will do far less in their life.

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