Ozzie Speaks On Microsoft Transition

In a phone interview with CRN hours after Microsoft went public with the news of its succession plan for founder and chairman Bill Gates, Ozzie seemed unfazed. The company announced Thursday that Gates is starting a two-year transition out of his day-to-day duties and has relinquished his chief software architect title to Ozzie.

Asked if this spotlight brings untoward pressure, Ozzie said: "None at all."

"I think Bill and [Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer] know that sometimes the gray hair can be advantageous," Ozzie said. "If you've been through positive experiences like launching [Lotus] 1-2-3 and VisiCalc, as well as sobering experiences like being at IBM with [Louis] Gerstner when the desktop business hit the wall at Lotus -- it can be very helpful moving forward," Ozzie said. Ozzie, like Gates is 50 years old.

Under the plan, Gates will remain chairman of the company he co-founded 31 years ago with Paul Allen. But starting in July 2008, he will devote the bulk of his time to The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Ozzie, who had been a Microsoft CTO, is now chief software architect. Another CTO, Craig Mundie, is now chief research and strategy officer.

Ozzie and Mundie will continue to report to Gates for the time being. At some time during the transition, they will transfer to Ballmer, according to a company statement.

Ozzie said he and Mundie are a good fit. Both are alumni of Data General, the Boston-area minicomputer maker immortalized in the book Soul Of A New Machine.

"Bill's role is really being divided in some sense by two people, Craig Mundie and me and our skills are very complimentary," Ozzie said. "His continuum starts at basic tech and ends at the customer. He really understands semiconductor progress in communications technologies. He understands research, both academic and commercial."

Mundie will determine how to build prototype projects and handle development projects "both applied and research." He will also handle intellectual property issues and policy.

Ozzie's realm will start at advanced development and center on products and product strategy, he said.

Ozzie came to Microsoft about a year ago when the Redmond, Wash.-based company bought Groove Networks, the Beverly, Mass., developer he founded. Even then, many surmised he would play a role in an eventual Gates succession. Gates over the years had repeatedly expressed his admiration for Ozzie, even though the latter worked for the enemy at Lotus Development Corp. Ozzie's Lotus Notes held Microsoft at bay for many years.