Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has been chosen Media Person of the Year at the Cannes International Advertising Festival in June. He was chosen, per festival organizers, because of his
leadership and Microsoft's ongoing commitment to digital advertising, reports
Adweek. Ballmer was one of the initial 24 employees at Microsoft after founder Bill Gates hired him in 1980 as the
company's first business manager. In 1998, he was named president and in 2000, became CEO.