Bill Gates’ leadership roles remain intact despite allegations

Critics say the revelations raise accountability concerns, though it is unclear how much Gates’ reputation might affect Microsoft and his namesake foundation

Microsoft conducted an investigation into Gates’ involvement with an employee almost two decades ago

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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, also co-chair of the philanthropic Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has come under fresh scrutiny amid revelations that his intimate relationship with an employee at the tech giant was investigated before he left the company’s board of directors. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:48pm, 19 May 2021Updated: 9:48pm, 19 May 2021

Despite damaging allegations suggesting Bill Gates pursued women who worked for him, do not expect changes to his roles at the two iconic institutions he co-founded, Microsoft Corp and his namesake philanthropic foundation.

Critics said the revelations raise accountability concerns, though it remains unclear how much the dent to Gates’ reputation might affect the institutions that are so closely associated with him.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it is not investigating the allegations in the media, as the reported incident involving one of the world’s largest, most influential non-profit organisation was made by “an anonymous former employee”.

“The foundation has never received any formal complaints regarding Bill Gates,” said the organisation’s representative in a statement to AP. “When we do receive an allegation of misconduct, we take it very seriously, conduct an investigation, and take deliberate actions appropriate to the situation.”

Pedestrians walk by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington, on May 3, 2021. Photo: Bloomberg

The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal over the weekend detailed Gates’ reported behaviour toward women, ranging from a full-blown affair at Microsoft to dismissiveness toward his now-estranged wife and foundation co-chair, Melinda French Gates, as well as asking out women who felt uncomfortable with his advances at both institutions.