The Gates Are Open for a New CEO!

Steve Ballmer, current CEO of Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), seemed upbeat when he announced major restructuring plans for the software giant in August. His announcement was followed by a major internal shake-up, which resulted in the transformation of Microsoft to ‘One Microsoft’. Microsoft’s different business divisions were replaced with departments based on their functionality. Following the shakeup, One Microsoft is to focus on creating a ‘family of devices and services’ rather than packaged software.

It came as a bit of a shock when, just a month after such a major transformation of the company, Ballmer announced that he was planning to retire. Ballmer had joined Microsoft in 1980 as the 30^th employee and the first business manager hired by Bill Gates himself. He took over from Gates as the company’s CEO in 2000.

His retirement has fueled speculation that he had been under intense pressure from Microsoft’s Board of Directors for not catching up to major industry trends. After all, it is no secret that stakeholders were holding him responsible for Microsoft’s lackluster performance. Read more.