Friday will mark Bill Gates’s last day as a full-time employee of Microsoft, the company he co-founded 33 years-ago, reports InformationWeek. Mr. Gates is leaving his company to concentrate on his work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Seattle fund he and his wife established in 1999.

Mr. Gates will remain in his role as Microsoft’s chairman.

The software mogul said he plans to encourage his wealthy friends to support the foundation’s efforts. “I need to orchestrate the rich world to help out,” said Mr. Gates.

“Everybody should give time and some money,” he added. “Pick a cause, and there are so many good ones out there, that you can develop some expertise in, and perhaps involve your spouse or the rest of your family,” he said.

Read The Chronicle’s recent article on the Gates Foundation’s new leader.

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