VentureBeat

Microsoft Bill Gates, co-founder of the software giant, plans to give up day-to-day duties at the company beginning in July 2008.

According to a statement today, Chief Technical Officer Ray Ozzie will immediately take the title chief software architect, working side by side with Gates. Chief Technical Officer Craig Mundie will immediately take the new title of chief research and strategy officer

The story doesn’t say Gates is leaving Microsoft, but that he’ll be spending more time at his non-profit foundation. We think this may be more significant that it sounds. Looks like he’s exiting the strategy portion of the business. You know the lore: Once a company’s founder leaves, so does the fiery passion that pushes it along. This could leave Microsoft adrift, good for all the little guys down here in Silicon Valley.

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