Why Steve Ballmer Quit Microsoft's Board of Directors
The former CEO said he's ready to focus on another high-profile venture.
— -- The Microsoft Board of Directors just got a lot quieter.
Former CEO Steve Ballmer, known for his excitable screaming, stepped down from the company's board today to focus on other endeavors -- like being a billionaire basketball team owner.
"I think it would be impractical for me to continue to serve on the board, and it is best for me to move off. The fall will be hectic between teaching a new class and the start of the NBA season so my departure from the board is effective immediately," Ballmer wrote in a letter to Satya Nadella, who succeeded him as CEO of the tech giant earlier this year.
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It wasn't until his final day as CEO that Ballmer said he began to think about life after Microsoft.
In May, Ballmer snagged the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that was finalized for $2 billion.
Ballmer made his debut on Monday as the team's owner at the Staples Center, where he high-fived fans, clapped and -- yes -- shouted until he was nearly hoarse.
Even though Ballmer will no longer have a voice on Microsoft's board, he noted in his letter that he is still the largest individual shareholder in the company.
"I expect to continue holding that position for the foreseeable future," he told Nadella.
His successor thanked him for his service and wished him well in his next chapter.
"I am sure that you will bring the same boldness, passion and impact to your new endeavors that you brought to Microsoft," Nadella said.