Ballmer to Retire

[menifred]

REDMOND, Wash. ? Aug. 23, 2013 ? Microsoft Corp. today announced that Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer has decided to retire as CEO within the next 12 months, upon the completion of a process to choose his successor. In the meantime, Ballmer will continue as CEO and will lead Microsoft through the next steps of its transformation to a devices and services company that empowers people for the activities they value most.

?There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,? Ballmer said. ?We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our company?s transformation to a devices and services company. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction.?

The Board of Directors has appointed a special committee to direct the process. This committee is chaired by John Thompson, the board?s lead independent director, and includes Chairman of the Board Bill Gates, Chairman of the Audit Committee Chuck Noski and Chairman of the Compensation Committee Steve Luczo. The special committee is working with Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a leading executive recruiting firm, and will consider both external and internal candidates.

?The board is committed to the effective transformation of Microsoft to a successful devices and services company,? Thompson said. ?As this work continues, we are focused on selecting a new CEO to work with the company?s senior leadership team to chart the company?s course and execute on it in a highly competitive industry.?

?As a member of the succession planning committee, I?ll work closely with the other members of the board to identify a great new CEO,? said Gates. ?We?re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO assumes these duties.?

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq ?MSFT?) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft?s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

 

 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/aug13/08-23AnnouncementPR.aspx

 

http://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-to-retire-within-12-months-20130823-00190

[Dot Matrix]

Microsoft has just announced that CEO Steve Ballmer will retire within the next 12 months.

Developing...

http://mobile.theverge.com/2013/8/23/4650596/steve-ballmer-retiring-as-microsoft-ceo

[Torolol]

now, who the Hipster that would replace him?

[Nick H. Supervisor]

<Topics merged>

[djdanster]

Got a feeling he was pushed out by the board.

[Phouchg]

Bill must come back and save Microsoft! /lonewandererchicken

[Dot Matrix]

This isn't those trolls that bought a stake in Microsoft, is it?

[djdanster]

Bill must come back and save Microsoft! /lonewandererchicken

 

No, please don't bring back Gates. He's doing too much great work and actually is making a difference to this world.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Bring back Steven Sinofsky.

[Hum]

HAL 9000 should replace him.

 

[Dick Montage]

Got a feeling he was pushed out by the board.

 

Translation: I've read the bickering and uninformed comments on forums and drawn a conclusion I would like to see.

 

now, who the Hipster that would replace him?

 

Translation: OMG! I will rage against whoever it is in an attempt to look cool (which I was doing way before it was cool).

Basically, this has been a long time coming, and I don't see it as negative against Ballmer i he is retiring (though that may have been a way of strategising his departure without making it look like part of the restructure).  Whoever takes it on has an awesome job ahead after the restructuring :)

[Dot Matrix]

Ballmer was one of the good guys...

[simonlang]

Awesome! I never was convinced of ballmer contrary to many members in here. My ms Stocks looking good now :-D

[djdanster]

Translation: I've read the bickering and uninformed comments on forums and drawn a conclusion I would like to see.

 

Well that was uncalled for... I never said that's what I want to happen. It's just that you wouldn't leave as the head of a successful major tech company at the ripe age of 57 on your own decision. I'm imagining that simply some board members didn't like the direction the company was moving in, so stepped in.

[Dot Matrix]

But Microsoft was successful in switching directions. Sure, they're off to a slow start, but still successful, none the less.

[chrisj1968]

great news. He had 2 less then stellar Windows releases under his tenure. Unlike Bill. only real tragic windows he was at the helm for the release of was Windows ME <shudders> :pinch:

[Torolol]

but still successful

like a 'sucessful' write off of Surface RT ?

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

Im glad hes gone. 
Now Windows 9 looks promising again. 

[Dick Montage]

Well that was uncalled for... I never said that's what I want to happen. It's just that you wouldn't leave as the head of a successful major tech company at the ripe age of 57 on your own decision. I'm imagining that simply some board members didn't like the direction the company was moving in, so stepped in.

 

I'm being tongue in cheek - it didn't come across.  However:

 

you wouldn't leave as the head of a successful major tech company at the ripe age of 57 on your own decision

 

My father did at the age of 38, and then again at 53.  He took 2 companies to a point where they were reaching a point where the next stage of success was requiring more commitment than he would have time for - so he sold them.  It's not uncommon for someone who has such influence within a company and wants it to succeed to put the company first and let someone else step in.

 

Off topic: All these armchair pundits in this thread do make me laugh...

[Dot Matrix]

Im glad hes gone.

Now Windows 9 looks promising again.

How do you know? Windows 9 has even started yet... Win9 isn't bringing back old things, if that's what you're hoping for. Microsoft has set a new course, it's not endi g here.

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

My father did at the age of 38, and then again at 53. ...

 

WUT? O.O

Your father is Jesus?

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

How do you know? Windows 9 has even started yet...

I have high hopes.

Anything has to be better than Windows 8. Even your reply to this.

[Dot Matrix]

I have high hopes.

Anything has to be better than Windows 8. Even your reply to this.

Windows 9 is only going to carry on with what's in Windows 8.

[HawkMan]

MS has never beenasbig, successfull, sold as much or had as much innovation as under Ballmer, so a replacement will have some pretty big and impressive shoes to fill.

I don't think sinofsk could do it, he was let go because he doesn't listen to anyone else, doesn't want to cooperate and wanted his department to be everything. Not good for a leader.

It'll be interesting to see who takes over and how he/she does.

But I think MS without Ballmer might suffer, if the stock market where to run MS it would have gone det a long time ago. Ballmer didn't care about the stock market and concentrated on the products.

And I have yet to see anyone who wanted Ballmer gone provide an actual good and valid reason for it. Is always he's anti FOSS or he's a idiot on stage. None of it has anything to do with with actual ability to run MS of course.

While they're looking inside and out, I suspect the next leader will have to come from inside, you pretty much need to have been working at MS for a while to understand the company and run it.

[+Anarkii Subscriber²]

XD You didnt let me down. "Quindows" lol :)
Anyway, I reckon Nik should be CEO. This dude is like me, straight to the point.