Raikes quits Microsoft

AFTER 26 YEARS, Jeff Raikes is leaving Microsoft.

Raikes is president of the Business division and is credited with helping make Office the great lumbering cash cow it is today. He'll leave the Volish bunker in September, probably to spend more time with his wallet.

Raikes joined Microsoft from Apple where we was Visicalc engineering manager. The year was 1981 and Microsoft numbereed about 100 employees. These days there are some 70,000 Microsofties.

But a few of the auld timers are taking a hike into the wilderness as Vole-in-chief Bill Gates decides to call it a day.

"It's been an incredible 26 years," Raikes said in an interview. "I couldn't be more proud of my team and where we've been able to take the business...I've truly lucked out."

Raikes said he had some quiet chats with CEO Steve Ballmer about leaving. His ears are still ringing, we imagine.

Raikes is to be replaced by former Macromedia CEO Stephen Elop. µ