The new executive team worked to get Dell’s house in order so that the company could continue its phenomenal sales growth. Management decided in 1995 to abandon distribution of Dell’s products through U.S. retail stores and return solely to direct distribution. This enabled the company to refocus Dell’s efforts in areas that matched its philosophy of high emphasis on customer support and service. In July 2004, Kevin Rollins replaced Michael Dell as Chief Executive Officer, allowing the founder to focus on being Chairman of the Board. This situation did not last long, however. Rising sales coupled with rapidly falling net income caused Michael Dell to rethink his retirement and resume his role as CEO in January 2007. Although Michael Dell in 2010 owned only 11.7% of the corporation’s stock, at age 45, he owned the largest block of stock and continued to be the “heart and soul” of the firm. The rest of the directors and executive officers owned less than 1% of the stock.