Moving Forward
Aug. 23, 2013
I am writing to let you know that
I will retire as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months, after a successor
is chosen. There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now
is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement
happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company
focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a
CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction. You can read the press
release on Microsoft News Center.
This is a time of important
transformation for Microsoft. Our new Senior Leadership team is amazing. The
strategy we have generated is first class. Our new organization, which is
centered on functions and engineering areas, is right for the opportunities and
challenges ahead.
Microsoft is an amazing place. I
love this company. I love the way we helped invent and popularize computing and
the PC. I love the bigness and boldness of our bets. I love our people and
their talent and our willingness to accept and embrace their range of
capabilities, including their quirks. I love the way we embrace and work with
other companies to change the world and succeed together. I love the breadth
and diversity of our customers, from consumer to enterprise, across industries,
countries, and people of all backgrounds and age groups.
I am proud of what we have
achieved. We have grown from $7.5 million to nearly $78 billion since I joined
Microsoft, and we have grown from employing just over 30 people to almost
100,000. I feel good about playing a role in that success and having committed
100 percent emotionally all the way. We have more than 1 billion users and earn
a great profit for our shareholders. We have delivered more profit and cash
return to shareholders than virtually any other company in history.
I am excited by our mission of
empowering the world and believe in our future success. I cherish my Microsoft
ownership, and look forward to continuing as one of Microsoft’s largest owners.
This is an emotional and
difficult thing for me to do. I take this step in the best interests of the company
I love; it is the thing outside of my family and closest friends that matters
to me most.
Microsoft has all its best days
ahead. Know you are part of the best team in the industry and have the right
technology assets. We cannot and will not miss a beat in these transitions. I
am focused and driving hard and know I can count on all of you to do the same.
Let’s do ourselves proud.
Steve
参考译文（选自中关村在线）
我现在写的这份邮件想告诉大家，我将在未来 12 个月里从微软
CEO 的位置退休，在此期间，微软将寻找新的 CEO。永远没有完美的时间点来进行这种过渡，但现在是正确的时刻。我最初以为我的退休会发生在微软向设备和服务公司转型的中途，而转型后的微软将为消费者带来价值最大化。但我们现在需要一个新的 CEO 长期专注于这一方向。你能在微软新闻中心读到关于我退休的新闻稿。
这是微软转型的重要时期，我们新的高级领导团队让人惊叹，同时我们制定的公司战略也是一流的。我们新的组织结构重点关注功能和工程领域，这正适合面对未来的机遇和挑战。
微软是一家神奇的公司，我热爱它。我热爱我们帮助发明并普及运算和 PC 的方式。我热爱我们伟大而勇敢的赌注。我热爱我们的员工和他们的才华，以及我们愿意接受并拥抱他们的各种特点，甚至包括他们的怪癖。我热爱我们拥抱并携手其他公司共同改变世界、最终取得成功的方式。我热爱我们客户呈现的广度和多样性，从消费者到企业用户，横跨各个行业、各个国家以及各种背景各种年龄的人群。
我为我们取得的成就感到自豪。自我加入微软以来，公司从年收入 750 万美元壮大到接近
780 亿美元，同时员工人数从 30 人多一点，增长到近
10 万。我为能参与到这样的成功中而感到十分高兴，并且一直 100% 地全身心投入。我们拥有超过 10 亿用户，同时为股东们获取了大量的利润。我们比历史上几乎任何一家公司都更多地为股东带来实际的财富。
我为我们驱动世界的使命而兴奋不已，并相信未来终将成功。我珍视我在微软的身份，而且期待继续作为微软最大的所有者之一。
对于我而言，这（退休）是伤感而困难的决定。踏出这一步， 是基于我所热爱的这家公司利益最大化来考虑；在我的家人以及最亲密的朋友之外，微软是我最关心的。
微软最美好的日子在前方。要知道你们是在业界最棒的团队里，而且拥有正确的科技资产。我们不能，也不会错失这样的转变。我专注于此并努力向前迈进，同时我知道我可以依赖你们所有人去采取同样的行动。一起做我们感到自豪的事情吧。
史蒂夫 |
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