Belshe leaves Microsoft

REDMOND, WA – Friday, September 29 2006 marked the final day at Microsoft for Mike Belshe, a development manager in the IS Client group in Silicon Valley.  The end of Belshe’s tenure marks a turning point for Microsoft, as Allchin, Valentine, Kennedy and Gates also hang up their hats.

The recent announcement was not a surprise.  Markets had adjusted to the Microsoft (MSFT) news over the past few months, and the stock has soared.  Prior to the news, the stock traded at $22 in June, but now tops $27.35.  “We’re not surprised by the market reaction,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft.  “Mike’s salary was pretty high, and with revenues of only $10B per quarter, our profits were in jeopardy.  He was doing a stellar job, but it was really hard for us to provide investors the return they expect.”  Investors are ecstatic, and happy to have the money back in the bank.

When asked, all that Belshe had to say was, “I really enjoyed the folks I worked with at Microsoft.  I wish them all the best, and I’m super excited that the stock price is up.  Like everyone else, I expect great things from a great team of people.  And Microsoft has got a great team.”