Amid the spreading outbreak of COVID-19, Bill Gates has apparently decided “to dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities including global health, development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change.” He’s stepping down from the board of directors at the company he founded, but will still be a “technology advisor” to current CEO Satya Nadella and other executives.

In a statement, Nadella said “The board has benefited from Bill’s leadership and vision. And Microsoft will continue to benefit from Bill’s ongoing technical passion and advice to drive our products and services forward. I am grateful for Bill’s friendship and look forward to continuing to work alongside him to realize our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”

The move comes twelve years after he left a day-to-day role at the company, and six years after he last served as chairman of the board. w

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