#4 Paul Maritz

On September 13, 2000 — Microsoft announced that Paul Maritz, group vice president of the Platforms Strategy and Developer Group, is retiring after 14 years with the company and 22 years in the high-tech industry. However Maritz continued to serve as a consultant to Microsoft on strategic and business issues.

Paul Maritz was later appointed as CEO of VMware Corporation, and he was with the company from July 8, 2008 until September 1, 2012.

He was often said to be the third-ranking executive, behind Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. He was responsible for essentially all of Microsoft's desktop and server software, including such major initiatives as the development of Windows 95, Windows NT, and Internet Explorer.

#3 Reed Hastings

On March 26, 2007, Microsoft announced that its board of directors has increased the size of the board from nine to 10 members and elected Reed Hastings, 46, chairman and CEO of Netflix to the board. Hastings has also been appointed to the finance committee.

Hastings founded Netflix in 1997, and the company ended 2006 with 6.3 million subscribers, having more than doubled in size over the last two years. He is a rising Silicon Valley star and has intimate knowledge of Microsoft's business after several years on its board, until his departure last year.

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