14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft continues the search for a new CEO and even though the internal committee in charge of finding the right person to lead the company has remained tight-lipped until now, rumor has it that an official announcement is prepared before Christmas.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNET is reporting that Redmond’s board of directors is planning to reveal Steve Ballmer’s replacement in the timeframe between Thanksgiving and Christmas, with the change to come into effect on January 1, 2014.
Of course, we still don’t know who’s favorite to take the vacant seat, but some previous reports pointed out that Alan Mulally, currently in charge of Ford, former Nokia boss Stephen Elop, and internals Tony Bates, Satya Nadella, and Kevin Turner are the top candidates.
Mulally has until now denied speculation on a potential switch to Microsoft, with Ford’s administration saying with every single occasion that the company’s CEO will stay on board until at least 2014.
Bill Gates has recently confirmed in a statement that the CEO search indeed continues, but he refused to provide any specifics on this. He did however mention that it was a hard job because the company needed someone that perfectly fitted the job and loved Microsoft as much as both he and Steve Ballmer did.
“The CEO position is a complex role to fill,” Bill Gates said, while also thanking Steve Ballmer for spending 13 years at the helm of the company.
“We’ve got a commitment to make sure the next CEO is the right person for right time for the company we both love. We share a commitment that Microsoft will succeed as a company that makes the world a better place.”
A recent report has also revealed a backup plan for Microsoft, with Kevin Turner to be named temporary CEO for two years, followed by the full-time appointment of Stephen Elop on the same position.