On Monday, Microsoft stated that it conducted an investigation into co-founder Bill Gates' involvement with an employee nearly 20 years ago after being informed in 2019 that he had attempted to start a romantic relationship with her. A company spokesperson said in a statement that Microsoft received concerns in the latter half of 2019 that Gates "sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in 2000." The statement explained that a committee from the board reviewed the concerns with the help of an external law firm to conduct a comprehensive investigation. Throughout the investigation, Microsoft provided extensive support to the employee who raised the concerns.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Microsoft's board decided that Gates' involvement with the employee was inappropriate, and he needed to resign in 2020, citing sources familiar with the matter. The Microsoft spokesperson declined to comment on whether the board had decided on Gates' departure.
In a statement to The Wall Street Journal, a spokesperson for Gates said that his decision to leave Microsoft's board was unrelated to his involvement with any employee. He confirmed in a statement, "There was a romantic relationship roughly 20 years ago that ended amicably. Bill's decision to leave the board was in no way related to this matter."
The billionaire, who co-founded Microsoft in 1975 and served as its CEO until 2000, stated in March 2020 that he was stepping down from the board to focus more on philanthropy. Gates and his wife Melinda filed for divorce earlier this month after 27 years of marriage.
