Born in February 1965, Michael Dell planned to be a doctor. But while studying at the University of Texas, his hobby – tinkering with computers – gained precedence and he began to sell computers out of his college dorm.
Dell set up in business in 1984 with just $1,000 and the idea of selling PCs direct to customers, without any middle-man. Dell's other unique selling point was that his computers would be ordered, whether on-line, by telephone or mail, then custom built.
The strategy worked: Dell Computer Corporation went public in 1988 and joined the Fortune 500 in 1992. Today the company employs around 46,000 staff, with reported earnings over the last year of around $41 billion.
In 2003 Fortune magazine named Michael Dell as one of the top ten most powerful people in business, while Chief Executive magazine picked him as their top CEO of 2001. He is also the longest serving CEO in the history of the computer industry.
But this tenure will end in July, when Dell hands over the CEO role to the current president and Chief Operating Officer of the company, Kevin Rollins.
Rollins has been with the company since 1996, when he joined as president of Dell Americas after working for management consultants Bain & Co.
The news of the hand over has not come as a shock to analysts who see the transfer as little more than an acknowledgement of the roles that the two men are currently playing. At present, Dell is focusing on trends in technology and customer preference, including research and development, while Rollins is leading company strategy and operations.
The company stressed that Dell will remain deeply involved in the company's day-to-day business as chairman of the board.
The transfer, announced at a director's meeting yesterday, will be effective from the company's AGM on 16th July.