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Steve Ballmer Steps Down From Microsoft

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"I bleed Microsoft-— have for 34 years and I always will," Steve Ballmer writes in the letter announcing his retirement from the Microsoft board, all of 6 months after the appointment of Satya Nadella as company CEO.

Ballmer Clippers"Given my confidence and the multitude of new commitments I am taking on now, I think it would be impractical for me to continue to serve on the board, and it is best for me to move off," the former CEO continues. What commitments has Ballmer taken on, you might ask? These include teaching and civic engagements, but mainly he will be busy with his latest purchase, the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team.

The National Basketball Association approved the $2 billion acquisition earlier this month, news announced in the shape of a boisterous on-stage address to the press and fans, Ballmer-style.

In turn Nadella accepted the resignation with a short letter thanking Ballmer for his years of leadership.

"While your insights and leadership will be greatly missed as part of the board, I understand and support your decision," the CEO writes.

Mind, Ballmer will not be entirely cut off from the Microsoft business-- not when he is the company's largest noninstitutional shareholder. He owns all of 333 million shares, which he intends to hold on to "for the foreseeable future."

The second largest Microsoft shareholder is Bill Gates, who holds 298 million shares. Gates stepped down as Microsoft chairman back in February,  and now acts as founder and technology adviser.

Go Steve Ballmer Steps Down as Board Member at Microsoft