Paul Allen to step down from Microsoft board

SEATTLE: Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft Corp., will step down from the software giant's board at its annual meeting on November 9, Microsoft said in a federal filing on Thursday. In its annual meeting proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft said Allen will remain as a "senior strategy advisor."

Allen, who quit Microsoft's day-to-day operations in 1982 to battle Hodgkins disease, has since invested some of his billions and most of his time in a range of high-tech businesses, sports franchises and charitable organisations.

"Paul will still be an adviser to (Chief Executive) Steve Ballmer and (Chairman) Bill Gates, but this will relieve him of some of his time demands," a spokeswoman for Microsoft said. In addition to Allen's resignation, Microsoft said Richard Hackborn will also step down from the board.

A Microsoft director since 1994, Hackborn recently resigned as chairman at Hewlett-Packard Co..Microsoft said it will not fill the vacant seats, and the number of board members will be reduced from the current eight to six.

(C) Reuters Limited 2000.