14 DAY TRIAL // Steve Ballmer will soon leave Microsoft and make room for another CEO, so he uses every single opportunity to talk about what could happen after he officially retires.
Ballmer said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday that both Xbox and Bing businesses should live on, despite what some analysts and former Microsofties have been saying lately.
The outgoing CEO explained that both products are key parts of Microsoft’s transition process to devices and services, with Bing slowly becoming an essential element of other platforms, such as Windows and cloud-based services.
“[Xbox One] is a reflection of what is possible when a company, our company, is unified under a common vision,” Ballmer was quoted as saying by GeekWire.
“This is really a signature moment in the transformation of the company. Microsoft is uniquely positioned to drive and define the next big thing.”
Ballmer has also explained that whoever comes next needs to treat ever potential deal with extra care, as Microsoft has to carefully spend its money right now, as it’s positioned to continue its path to long-term profitability.
“Now, bigger acquisitions should be done with great thought and caution,” he continued. “Certainly our aQuantive acquisition is not going to go down in the record books as a success. It wasn’t, and I take responsibility for that.”
Steve Ballmer will soon leave Microsoft, with sources close to the matter saying that five people are in the race of the vacant seat, including Ford’s Alan Mulally, Stephen Elop, Tony Bates and Kevin Turner.
Mually is said to be the leading candidate for the CEO position, even though the American has until now denied speculation on such a switch with every single occasion.
The company continues the search for a new CEO, but analysts believe that an announcement on the matter will be made by year-end.