October 9, 2009 by Jenny Sanderson
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer wowed an audience of government ministers and company executives at the opening of Microsoft’s new corporate HQ in France when he gave a ten minute speech entirely in French. Guests and dignitaries were apparently not expecting to be spoken to in their own language by one of the most important men in the computer industry.
After apologising for his bad French in an accent described by onlookers as ‘well-pronounced,’ Ballmer announced that he was going to carry out his presentation in the language of Molier. The stunt was undoubtedly calculated to curry favour with his audience, and it would appear to have worked, especially the part when Ballmer exclaimed, “France means so much to me. I love your country.”
All showboating aside, the speech made the point that speaking at the opening was more than just a pit-stop to the Microsoft CEO. Ballmer had clearly prepared fastidiously.
Ballmer learned to speak French during his time in Belgium during the 1960s. This is not the first time he has shown off his language skills, making comments in slightly more broken French to a Belgian press conference in April, 2008.
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