New Gates Leader to Avoid News Media for 100 Days

The new chief executive of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Seattle, starts his new job today and will not grant interviews to the news media for 100 days, reports the Associated Press.

Jeff Raikes, who served as president of Microsoft’s business-software division, says the 100-day news blackout will allow him to focus on his new duties. Mr. Raikes also said that the foundation could hire as many as 200 new employees later this year.

For more on Mr. Raikes, read The Chronicle’s article on his appointment. And see this online discussion that Patty Stonesifer, his predecessor, held with The Chronicle as she was stepping down from the chief executive job.

(Free registration is required to view the AP article on the Los Angeles Times site, and a paid subscription or short-term pass is required to view the Chronicle article. The discussion transcript is free.)