Steve Ballmer ended up in tears in his last company meeting held on Friday after a rock-concert-style sendoff topped with a dance performance, marking the end of his 33-year career at Microsoft.
Ballmer referred to Microsoft as “the best company in the world,” spotlighting the company‘s focus on “doing more” in comparison to rivals such as Apple, Amazon and Google. Despite expressing his regret for Microsoft’s late entry into the smartphone business, Ballmer said he believes in the company’s potential in the field.
The 57-year-old CEO danced to Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” the same dance he had performed at his first company meeting 30 years ago. On leaving the stage, he was streaming with tears after delivering a speech to employees, according to a report from the BBC.
Microsoft announced in August the Ballmer’s exit within the year, following constant pressure on him to step down after the newly launched Windows 8 faced negative reviews and disappointing revenue growth. The event on Sunday caused a long queue of 13,000 people outside the Key Arena in Seattle, a venue for basketball and ice hockey.
By Yoon Ha-youn, Intern reporter
(yhayoun@heraldcorp.com)
