Microsoft Corp. set up an investigation into co-founder Bill Gates's involvement with an employee in 2000. In 2019, the company had received a concern that that Gates had tried to have an "intimate" relationship with a female employee in 2000.
In a statement, Microsoft said, "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."
According to the reports, the board had entrusted the investigation against Gates to a law firm in 2019. Earlier, the engineer wrote a letter to Microsoft, revealing that he had a relationship with Gates for many years. However, Bill Gates resigned even before the board's inquiry was completed.
A spokesman for Bill Gates told that this affair was 20 years ago and it was also concluded with consent. At the same time, he claimed that this relationship and investigation has no connection with Gates leaving the post of a board member. Bill Gates resigned from the Microsoft board last year and said that now he will focus on the well-being of the people.
According to the company's spokesperson, Gates's decision to leave Microsoft as a board member wasn't related to an affair almost two decades ago that ended amicably. His departure as board member had to do with his interest in spending more time on his philanthropy.
Recently, after 27 years of marriage, billionaire couple Bill Gates and Melinda Gates parted their way and announced their divorce earlier this month.
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