Bill Gates has told the Sydney Morning Herald he will not return to Microsoft's helm, despite rumours of his intention to reclaim the reins from Steve Balmer, who replaced Gates as CEO back in 2000. Earlier this month, Fortune Magazine reported that a “prominent chief executive” had heard stirrings of Gates’s intention to take back control of the software giant, which he founded in 1975. However the business magnate has confirmed his relationship to Microsoft will remain strictly advisory. “I’m part-time involved with Microsoft, including even being in touch this week to give some of my advice, but that’s not going to change,” he said. Since stepping down from the mantle in 2000, Gates has remained as chairman of his billion-dollar company, and even opened a new position for himself as chief software architect.