Tech giant’s chief breaks down in tears, dances to Michael Jackson and sings along to the hit song from Dirty Dancing as he bids adieu in final company meeting.
Outgoing Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer broke out the dance moves and tears as he bade farewell to employees in his final company meeting
Packed into Seattle’s Key Arena, 13,000 employees watched as an emotional Ballmer sang along to Time of My Life from the chick flick Dirty Dancing as he said his goodbye to the firm which has been his workplace for 33 years.
Ballmer, who has been CEO since 2000, began his epic farewell monologue by playing a song he first used at his very first company meeting in 1983 – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ by Michael Jackson.
The Verge reports that he danced and jumped around the stage stating the track was “the sound of Microsoft”.
Once the song had ended the crowd erupted into applause giving Ballmer time to enjoy the moment.
“Soak it in; you work for the greatest company in the world. And I want to say thank you."
"This isn't about any one person, this is about a company,” he told the crowd. “A company that's important, that's forward-thinking, that's innovative, that's ethical, that hires great people and lets people lead great lives and helps people around the world realise their full potential.”
Ballmer said Microsoft was a like a “fourth child” to him and like the rite of passage of children leaving home, he too was leaving the house.
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With tears visibly streaming down his face, he went on to introduce his “favourite song”', Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing.
“I wanted to pick a song that was exactly perfect. A song that looked back retrospectively and celebrated the future,” he said.
Afterwards employees took to Twitter and referred to the event as like a “rock concert.”
Ballmer will retire within the next year and the search for his replacement is on-going.