After much speculation around Bill and Melinda Gates’ split, the Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has reportedly admitted to having an affair with a former employee.
The Microsoft co-founder stepped down from the board as the software giant launched a probe into the alleged two-decade-old affair. However, a spokesperson for Bill Gates denied that his decision to leave the board had anything to do with the inquiry.
Bill Gates had listed the reason for his decision was to spend more time on his charity work with the ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.’
“With respect to Microsoft, stepping down from the board in no way means stepping away from the company. Microsoft will always be an important part of my life’s work… I feel more optimistic than ever about the progress the company is making and how it can continue to benefit the world,” wrote Bill Gates.
Meanwhile, the software company had received a complaint in late 2019 that Bill Gates had ‘sought to initiate an intimate relationship’ with a female employee in 2000, a spokesperson for Microsoft said on Monday.
Ann Winblad – Bill Gates’ rumored ex-girlfriend
“A committee of the board reviewed the concern, aided by an outside law firm, to conduct a thorough investigation, throughout the investigation, Microsoft provided extensive support to the employee who raised the concern,” he said.
On the other hand, another spokesperson for Bill Gates affirmed the software giant’s CEO had an affair while speaking to the Wall Street Journal. However, she said it had nothing to do with his decision to step down from the company’s board.
“There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably, Bill’s decision to transition off the board was in no way related to this matter. In fact, he had expressed an interest in spending more time on his philanthropy starting several years earlier,” she said.
Despite splitting after 27 years of marriage, Bill and Melinda will continue to partner for their charity projects under the ‘Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The couple is also revising the amount their children will inherit from their business empire. Meanwhile, the rest will go to their philanthropic ventures.
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