SEATTLE -- Patty Stonesifer, CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, made the following statement today on Bill Gates' transition:
Today, Microsoft announced that Bill Gates has established a two-year transition plan that will enable him to spend more time on the foundation’s work, starting in July 2008. Melinda Gates has also confirmed her plans to continue increasing her own daily involvement in our work.
The foundation's staff and leadership benefit greatly from Bill and Melinda's continued and growing involvement in our work. Together, they set the strategic direction and provide deep and thoughtful counsel on what we’re learning, how we’re developing and implementing solutions, and how we’re measuring results. They also play a critical role in drawing attention to the issues we’re working on with partners from around the world.
No other organizational changes are planned. With the management team we put in place earlier this year, we believe we have the right structure in place to accommodate growth so that our work can have an even greater impact in the decade ahead.
Patty Stonesifer
CEO