SEATTLE - One of the richest men in the world is getting a new job.

Bill Gates today ends his tenure as a top leader at Microsoft, the software giant he co-founded, to devote himself full-time to his huge charitable foundation.

Instead of working to solve problems in the information technology business, he’ll now be working to solve the world’s health problems and other major challenges.

Gates is officially leaving Microsoft as of Friday, although he will remain the company’s non- executive chairman.

Since Microsoft’s start in 1975, Gates has piled nearly all its hats on his head: genius programmer, technology guru, primary decision maker and ruthless leader. He served as chief executive and later chief software architect, and is credited with being a key decision-maker on both business strategy and technical issues.

Analysts and scholars also credit him with changing software into a money-making enterprise, rather than a pastime for hobbyists.

For Microsoft, the challenge on Monday morning will be how to deal with problems even Gates couldn’t solve, including competition with Google.

Recent remarks indicate the company won’t even try to find a replacement for Gates but will divide his functions among whole groups of employees.

mj has been copyed from : www.msnbc.msn.com