14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft continues the search for a new CEO, but the best choice remains Bill Gates, the man who founded the Redmond-based empire.
That’s the opinion of American businessman Charles Schwab, who said in an interview with Bloomberg that Bill Gates should return to Microsoft for at least one year.
The reason is as simple as it could be, Schwab explained. Bill Gates is the only one who can reshape the company, especially because Redmond has already started an ambitious transition to devices and services and wants to focus more on hardware.
“When you build up a culture, there's only one person who can knock it down. It would behoove Gates to go back for at least a year. He's the only guy who can really reshape the cultural aspects, because otherwise the organization will spit anybody out, anybody coming in,” Schwab said.
While this isn’t the first time when Microsoft’s co-founder is said to be the best choice for the Microsoft CEO seat, it all comes down to Gates’ willingness to return in a position he abandoned in 2000.
In fact, Bill Gates has already denied several reports that he might come back in the CEO seat at Microsoft, saying that he only wants to focus on his charity work and eradicate a number of diseases in poor countries across the world.
Gates, on the other hand, is part of the committee in charge of naming a new CEO, and he has already promised to work closer with whoever takes over from Ballmer.
At this point, Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally is said to be the leading choice for Microsoft’s board, even though the American has denied the possibility to switch to Redmond. Stephen Elop, Satya Nadella, Tony Bates, and Kevin Turner are also believed to be on Microsoft’s CEO shortlist.