Microsoft could pick Mulally or Nadella as next CEO by end of year: Bloomberg

Microsoft’s board has placed Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally and internal executive Satya Nadella at the top of its potential CEO list, according to a report by Bloomberg. Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, the source says that internal candidate Tony Bates and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop are still on the list, but are considered less likely to be offered the job. The new CEO could be chosen

The report also claims that the board is aiming to finalise the CEO this year, though an announcement could be pushed back until early next year. The source has also reported that a document has been prepared by the board for the CEO search to describe the ideal candidate.

 Preferences remain “fluid”, says the source, and other people are being considered and could emerge as frontrunners later on, although these candidates remained unidentified. The board wants to quickly replace longtime CEO Steve Ballmer, who announced in August that he would be retiring within the next 12 months.

According to the document, the next Microsoft CEO is one who has an “extensive track record in managing complex, global organizations within a fast-paced and highly competitive market sector; track record of delivering top and bottom line results. [The candidate should have] proven ability to lead a multi-billion dollar organization and large employee base.”

In the past few months, there have been reports of Microsoft shifting focus to hardware and Internet-based services like Office 365 to cope with a steady decline in the worldwide PC market. Spokesman from both Microsoft and Nokia declined to comment about this, and Ford Motor spokesman Jay Cooney said, “There is no change from what we announced last November. Alan remains completely focused on executing our One Ford plan. We do not engage in speculation.”  

The source reported that the board met on November 18 regarding the CEO search. Microsoft chairman and co-founder Bill Gates, at a shareholder meeting last week, was reported saying that he and other directors have met with “a lot of CEO candidates.” He did not give a timeline for when the final decision would be taking place, saying that it “is a complex role to fill.” Ballmer, on the other hand, was reported saying that the shareholder event was a “fun meeting” when compared with the teary goodbye message he gave to employees at an internal meeting.