>I entered an order that required that you distribute a product that would not work.
Ken- In most companies testimony by an official like that would
be grounds for dismissal by the board of directors. However with
Microsoft you can see that the board doesn't amount to very much.
Microsoft suffers another bad day
sjmercury.com
sjmercury.com
William H. Gates, 41, was a founder of the Company and has been its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
since the Company's predecessor partnership was incorporated in 1981. From 1975 to 1981, Mr. Gates was a partner with
Paul Allen, Microsoft's other founder, in the predecessor partnership. Mr. Gates is also a director of ICOS Corporation.
Paul G. Allen, 44, has been a director of the Company since 1990, and also served on the Board from 1981 to 1984. Mr. Allen
was a founder of the Company and worked at Microsoft from 1975 to 1984. Mr. Allen owns and invests in a suite of companies
exploring the potential of multimedia digital communications. His wholly-owned companies include Asymetrix Corporation,
Interval Research Corp., and Vulcan Ventures Inc. He is also the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team and the
Seattle Seahawks football team, a partner in the entertainment studio DreamWorks SKG, and holds investments in more than
35 technology companies. Mr. Allen is also a director of both HSN, Inc. and Ticketmaster Corp.
Jill E. Barad, 46, has been a director of the Company since 1996. Ms. Barad has been the president and chief executive officer
of Mattel, Inc. since January 1997. Starting as a product manager at Mattel in 1981, she was named executive vice president
of marketing and worldwide product development in 1986 and, in 1989, president of the girls and activity toys division. In 1990
she was named president of Mattel USA and, in 1992, president and chief operating officer of Mattel, Inc. Ms. Barad is also a
director of Mattel, Inc., Pixar Animation Studios, and BankAmerica Corporation.
Richard A. Hackborn, 60, has been a director of the Company since 1994. Mr. Hackborn retired in 1993 from Hewlett-Packard
Company, which designs, manufactures, and services electronic products and systems for measurement, computation, and
communications, and currently serves on that company's Board of Directors. From 1990 to 1993, he was Hewlett-Packard's
Executive Vice President, Computer Products Organization, and from 1984 through 1990, he was its Vice President and
General Manager, Peripherals Group.
David F. Marquardt, 48, has served as a director of the Company since 1981. Mr. Marquardt is a founding general partner of
August Capital, formed in 1995, and has been a general partner of various Technology Venture Investors entities, which are
private venture capital limited partnerships, since August 1980. He is a director of Auspex Systems, Inc., Farallon
Communications, Inc., Visioneer, Inc., and various privately held companies.
William G. Reed, Jr., 58, has been a director of the Company since 1987. From 1971 to 1986, Mr. Reed was Chairman of the
Board of Simpson Timber Company, a forest products company. Since 1986, Mr. Reed has served as Chairman of the Board
of Simpson Investment Company, a forest products holding company which is the parent of Simpson Timber Company. He is
also a director of Safeco Corporation, Washington Mutual, Inc., and the Seattle Times Company.
Jon A. Shirley, 59, served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft from 1983 to 1990. He has been a director of
the Company since 1983. Mr. Shirley also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mentor Graphics Corporation. |
