Steve Ballmer is a Lame Duck

Being at the top of Microsoft Corp. is not a guarantee of a positive public perception. This seems to be the case with Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO that has is part of a negative ranking put together in the latest July issue of Fortune group magazine Business 2.0. The High Life Trivia top 10 comprises more big names with big titles as accessories but without any real content of power, influence or importance.

"Let's face it: The head of the world's biggest software company is a lame duck. Sure, Microsoft's board still backs Ballmer as CEO, and he still has a core of loyal executives within the company. But with longtime partner Bill Gates stepping away from his day-to-day role to focus on saving the world, and Ray Ozzie playing the role of resident visionary, the CEO job just won't be as much fun. And with employees and investors still in a froth over the company's low share price, it will be increasingly tempting for Ballmer to follow Bill's lead, and make boosting the shares someone else's problem," has commented Business 2.0.

Ballmer is joined by Ken Kutaragi, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, Arun Sarin, Vodafone CEO, Jonathan Schwartz, CEO, Sun Microsystems and Linus Torvalds Linux creator to name but a few.