The news broke in the morning of Friday August 23, 2013 that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has decided to retire within the next 12 months.
From Ballmer’s internal email:
I am writing to let you know that I will retire as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months, after a successor is chosen. There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.
It is also clear that Microsoft at this point does not have a succesion plan.
From Microsoft Press Release:
The Board of Directors has appointed a special committee to direct the process. This committee is chaired by John Thompson, the board’s lead independent director, and includes Chairman of the Board Bill Gates, Chairman of the Audit Committee Chuck Noski and Chairman of the Compensation Committee Steve Luczo. The special committee is working with Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a leading executive recruiting firm, and will consider both external and internal candidates.
So, who would be the next Microsoft CEO? Let’s the speculation begin!
Under Ballmer’s helm, Microsoft has been a generally profitable company with some notable exceptions such as the first few years of XBox project and Surface RT. Notably, Microsoft is actually making profit off Android.
In addition to that, Ballmer had failed to see the competitive threat from Apple.
- Ballmer: iPhone has “no chance” of gaining significant market share
- Ballmer Laughs at iPhone
- Steve Ballmer on the iPad: The transcript
