Right, but this isn't just some random guy jumping ship. He's been winding down his role in the company for over a decade and there's a really obvious reason to

Right, but this isn't just some random guy jumping ship. He's been winding down his role in the company for over a decade and there's a really obvious reason to step down: The stock market crash makes this an important time for Microsoft to have leadership that can actually support the company and Bill Gates' other job is incredibly active in the response to coronavirus. It's very likely that the reason he's stepping down has nothing to do with burying the news at all, it's to do with the fact he actually has limited time and this is a very important time to focus his efforts.