Bill Gates had an affair with his employee? Was that the reason of his step-down from Microsoft board?

 In 2019, the Microsoft board of directors received an information that Bill Gates had an affair with a Microsoft female employee two decades back. It started a detailed investigation on that matter. But it seems that the affair and matter was resolved amicably. Was the investigation completed? Know the details here. 

The investigation of Bill Gates' affair

It came to light in 2019 that Bill Gates had an affair with a female employee of Microsoft company. It was in 2000. The company and its board of directors ordered a thorough investigation of this new piece of information. This was the time that there was a lot talked about #MeToo movement. 

The board also took help of an external law firm in this probe. But the company did not reach any conclusion or decision since Bill Gates stepped down from the board. 

Bill Gates (Source: IT) 

Microsoft and its statement on this matter

The company released a statement on this that read:

“Microsoft received a concern in the latter half of 2019 that Bill Gates sought to initiate an intimate relationship with a company employee in the year 2000,”

“A committee of the Board reviewed the concern, aided by an outside law firm, to conduct a thorough investigation. Throughout the investigation, Microsoft provided extensive support to the employee who raised the concern.”

Dow Jones has earlier said that the directors found that his intimate relationship with the employee was not appropriate. And that he should step down from the board. 

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Bill Gates and his side of the story

Bill Gates in March 2020 had said that he was stepping down to devote time for philanthropic Ventures. Of course, he did not talk about the real reasons for it. But Bill was not involved in the daily working of the company from 2008 itself. And Bill's spokeswoman said:

“There was an affair almost 20 years ago which ended amicably,” 

She denied that his resignation from the board had anything to do with this affair. Intel Corp. Chief Executive Officer Brian Krzanich had similarly stepped down after investigation into his involvement with a subordinate came to light. 

Bill and wife Melinda this month announced their divorce. They were married for 27 years. Some say that she was upset with news of his association with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.