Steven Ballmer

For years, Bill Gates has embodied the company Microsoft. However, Steve Ballmer joined the company in 1980, eight years after its creation. When the monopoly of Microsoft has begun to be questioned, Steve Ballmer began to exist. This passionate man, great orator, has the skill and the style to galvanize the crowds during the presentations of Microsoft products but also to disturb his competitors bluntly.

After a degree in Mathematics and Economics at Harvard University and an MBA obtained at Stanford, Steve Ballmer joined Procter Gamble where he stayed two years. In 1980, he joined Microsoft, he led several divisions, including operations, operating systems development, and sales and support, until 1998. In 1998, he becomes president of Microsoft. At that time, he has only the title but not the prerogatives because all strategic decisions are concentrated in the hands of Bill Gates.

This situation creates some tensions in the relations between the two men and their disagreements are on the front page of newspapers. The crisis is at its height in 2000 and begins to have fatal effects on the company and its notoriety. In these days, Steve Ballmer finally reached the position of CEO.

Finally invested with real powers, he will show his knowledge and expertise to create a special relationship between users and Microsoft partners. Thanks to him, the customer service of Microsoft will become one of the best in the world. Today, even if Bill Gates is associated to important decisions, he principally works for Bill and Melinda Foundation. Steve Ballmer is the 46th richest person in the world according to Forbes, with an estimated wealth of $14.5 billion.

Steve Ballmer knows that Microsoft must be strengthened to fend off the competitors. In January 2011, he tried to acquire the business “research” of Yahoo. In order to reduce Microsoft expenditures, he realizes a restructuration of the company including some dismissals.