It was his last company meeting as CEO
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer attended his very last company meeting as leader of the Redmond, Washington-based company, giving an emotional goodbye speech and his usual energetic dancing.
Ballmer took the stage at Seattle's KeyArena in front of about 13,000 Microsoft employees to give one last performance as CEO. He came onstage while "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis played over the speakers.
He gave a speech about an hour long, with tears streaming down his face at points. He discussed his time at Microsoft, the deal with Nokia and handing the torch over to a new CEO.
"I want to say thank you…this isn't about any one person," said Ballmer. "It's about a company that's important, that's forward thinking, that's innovative.
"We will deliver the next big thing...we will change the world again."
Ballmer managed to take a few jabs at the competition as well, describing Apple as being "fashionable," Amazon as being "cheap," Google as "knowing more," but Microsoft as "doing more."
He departed the stage to Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," which is the song that played at Microsoft's first employee meeting in 1983. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes played afterward, as Ballmer sang and danced along.
"You work for the greatest company in the world, soak it in," said Ballmer before exiting the stage. "I believe in you, I believe in the mission. We've been a great company for years. We will be a great company for many more years."
Ballmer joined Microsoft on June 11, 1980 as the company's 30th employee and the first business manager hired by Microsoft Chairman and Co-Founder Bill Gates. Even though Ballmer has been a public figure for Microsoft for many years, some believe the company is in need of an executive shake-up -- including a new leader.
Ballmer announced last month that he plans to retire sometime over the next year. The company is currently undergoing a major restructuring plan that will unify devices like Windows Phone, PC and Xbox One.
Sources: The Verge, Reuters
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer attended his very last company meeting as leader of the Redmond, Washington-based company, giving an emotional goodbye speech and his usual energetic dancing.
Ballmer took the stage at Seattle's KeyArena in front of about 13,000 Microsoft employees to give one last performance as CEO. He came onstage while "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis played over the speakers.
He gave a speech about an hour long, with tears streaming down his face at points. He discussed his time at Microsoft, the deal with Nokia and handing the torch over to a new CEO.
"I want to say thank you…this isn't about any one person," said Ballmer. "It's about a company that's important, that's forward thinking, that's innovative.
"We will deliver the next big thing...we will change the world again."
Ballmer managed to take a few jabs at the competition as well, describing Apple as being "fashionable," Amazon as being "cheap," Google as "knowing more," but Microsoft as "doing more."
He departed the stage to Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," which is the song that played at Microsoft's first employee meeting in 1983. "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes played afterward, as Ballmer sang and danced along.
"You work for the greatest company in the world, soak it in," said Ballmer before exiting the stage. "I believe in you, I believe in the mission. We've been a great company for years. We will be a great company for many more years."
Ballmer joined Microsoft on June 11, 1980 as the company's 30th employee and the first business manager hired by Microsoft Chairman and Co-Founder Bill Gates. Even though Ballmer has been a public figure for Microsoft for many years, some believe the company is in need of an executive shake-up -- including a new leader.
Ballmer announced last month that he plans to retire sometime over the next year. The company is currently undergoing a major restructuring plan that will unify devices like Windows Phone, PC and Xbox One.
Sources: The Verge, Reuters
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