14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has started the search for a new CEO, but the reasons for Steve Ballmer’s departure remain unknown for the time being.
While some think that Windows 8’s poor sales performance was one of the reasons, Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy, believes that the $900 million (€780 million) Surface RT write-down was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“It was the $900 million write-down. That caught the attention of the board, and based on Ballmer's over-enthusiastic public commentary on Windows RT and Surface RT, they lost a lot of credibility. So did Ballmer,” the analyst was quoted as saying by The Drum.
“How can you be that far off what consumers want? Was it that you're not listening to your team? Was it because the team was afraid to give him advice? Was it because the team saw a different reality? Or was it that the team lacked the skill set to anticipate the failure?"
In the meantime, Ballmer denies all reports claiming that he was forced to leave by ValueAct Capital, even though sources familiar with the matter indicated that the board sped up the retirement of the CEO.