Microsoft closing in on next CEO Microsoft has narrowed the list of external candidates to replace CEO Steve Ballmer to about five people, including Ford chief Alan Mulally and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, according to sources familiar with the matter. Microsoft also has at least three internal candidates on its shortlist, including former Skype CEO Tony Bates, who is now responsible for Microsofts business development, and Satya Nadella, the companys cloud and enterprise chief, the sources said. Despite the shortening list - the company started with about 40 names - the process could take a few more months, the sources said as the company seeks to replace Ballmer, who said he would retire within 12 months in August. The names of other candidates remain unknown, but the search committee is interviewing executives from a wide range of sectors, including life sciences and consumer, the sources said. Microsoft declined to comment, while Nokia representatives could not be reached immediately for comment. Ford spokesman Jay Cooney said: There is no change from what we announced last November. Alan remains fully focused on continuing to make progress on our One Ford plan. We do not engage in speculation. Investor unrest Investors have pushed Microsofts board in recent months to look for a turnaround expert, such as Mulally or Computer Sciences CEO Mike Lawrie. Some investors have also suggested to the board that co-founder Bill Gates should step down from his role as chairman, saying he stands in the way of radical reform at Microsoft. Microsoft remains highly profitable and last month beat Wall Streets quarterly profit and revenue forecast, but it has lost ground to Apple and Google in mobile computing. Ballmer has focused on making devices, such as the Surface tablet and Xbox gaming console, and turning key software into services provided over the web. Some investors say that a new chief should not be bound by that strategy and are concerned that, with both Gates and Ballmer up for re-election to Microsofts board, any future CEO will face a fight to change legacy policies. Members of the CEO search committee have been speaking with dissenting shareholders, according to sources familiar with the conversations. Activist shareholder ValueAct Capital Management was offered a board seat by Microsoft in August. Several sources said the investor will also be given the same access as the board to the final five candidates. In the running Mulally, 68, is credited with inspiring a cultural change that helped Ford reverse its losses and avert a federal bailout in 2009. He has repeatedly said he plans to adhere to his agreement to stay with Ford until the end of 2014, but people familiar with the matter have previously said that Mulally is open to other opportunities and may leave Ford earlier if another job presents itself. Elop ran Microsofts business software division before jumping ship to Nokia in 2010. Although he is seen as an external candidate for the Microsoft CEO job, he is set to return to his former employer after the closure of its €5.44bn acquisition of Nokias handset business. The Nokia deal, which came soon after Ballmers surprise decision to retire, was widely seen as putting Elop among the list of successors. Meanwhile, the two known internal candidates have been gaining prominence within Microsoft. Bates came to Microsoft two years ago as CEO of the acquired Skype and was recently elevated to lead the technology giants business development and overall strategy. Nadellas group is coming to the fore as the company struggles to catch up in online and mobile computing.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 16:31:41 +0000
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