14 DAY TRIAL // Steve Ballmer will soon step down from his position as Microsoft CEO, while new reports claim that three top company shareholders are trying to force co-founder Bill Gates to give up on his chairman seat.
While seeing Gates go would clearly be the end of another era for Microsoft, Jack Gold, analyst J. Gold Associates, said in an interview with USA Today that this could be the change that might push the company “in a needed new direction.”
"The bigger issue is, now that Ballmer is being replaced, who will lead? Gates and Ballmer have essentially veto power Relevant Products/Services over the selection process that not much will change. If you eliminate the existing chair and limit the influence of Ballmer on the selection process, you're more likely to get someone that can take Microsoft in a needed new direction. That would be the best outcome, in my opinion,” Gold explained.
Gates is yet to comment on all these rumors, but given the fact that the new CEO is expected to be announced by the end of the year, expect more details on this to emerge soon.