Steve Ballmer's Eventual Microsoft Replacement (WSJ/Dow Jones) ...
>> Elop Calls Ballmer an “Inspirational Leader” ...
Shira Ovide
The Wall Street Journal | Digits
Aug 23, 2013
blogs.wsj.com
Nokia CEO and ex-Microsoft executive Stephen Elop is on many observers’ short lists to become the new CEO of Microsoft. Through a Nokia spokesman, Elop released this statement on Friday about current Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer‘s retirement announcement:
“Steve has been an inspirational leader in an industry that has undergone dramatic change over the last three decades. We look forward to continuing our work together with Steve and the Microsoft team.” - Stephen Elop -
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Rafe Blandford of All About Windows Phone says that "Unlike the Bill Gates to Steve Ballmer transition there is no really obvious successor, so it is likely there will be speculation on a wide number of names, but the smart money may be on Microsoft EVP Tony Bates."
My not so smart money is on an internal candidate, but on Terry Myerson as opposed to Tony Bates, and that woul dcertainly good for Elop and Nokia..
>> Microsoft's Potential Internal Candidates To Succeed CEO Ballmer
Shira Ovide
Dow Jones Business News (and WSJ)
August 23, 2013
nasdaq.com
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) said it would consider "both external and internal candidates" as a replacement for soon-to-be retiring Chief Executive Steve Ballmer. If Microsoft picks from within, then here are some potential successors following the company's recent reorganization:
Kevin Turner, chief operating officer: Mr. Turner leads the company's sales force, and he's developed a reputation for not mincing words. Microsoft insiders doubt, however, that Mr. Turner would ever be chief of a company that lionizes engineering and tech expertise. He also is the highest-paid executive at Microsoft, pulling down compensation last year that Microsoft valued at $10.7 million.
Terry Myerson, executive vice president, operating systems: One of the big winners in the recent reorganization. Mr. Myerson catapulted from running Microsoft's tiny Windows Phone smartphone business, into the engineering boss for the heart of Microsoft--the operating software for Windows-based PCs, servers, smartphones and Xbox.
Julie Larson-Green, executive vice president, devices and studios: Ms. Larson-Green, who took over as engineering boss at Windows less than a year ago, shifted from software to running Microsoft's hardware business as part of the reorganization. Mr. Ballmer has said Microsoft is changing from a company known for operating systems and application software into one that will deliver devices and services. That will elevate Ms. Larson-Green. Her empire for now includes the Surface tablet-style computer and the Xbox videogame console, which collectively bring in a single-digit-percentage of Microsoft's total revenue. But that portfolio will definitely grow, meaning Washington State lifer Ms. Larson-Green may have an expanding empire.
Satya Nadella, executive vice president, cloud and enterprise: Mr. Nadella has won many fans inside of Microsoft as leader of Microsoft's businesses, including back-end server software, databases and other invisible but hugely profitable corporate technologies. Mr. Ballmer has given Mr. Nadella huge kudos for making his businesses relevant in "cloud" computing, or computing services distributed or delivered online. And there have been whispers Mr. Ballmer has sought to position Mr. Nadella as a potential successor. The recent reshuffling gave Mr. Nadella a bigger set of chores, including building data centers to house computing networks.
Tony Bates, executive vice president, business development and evangelism: The former Cisco executive and Skype CEO came aboard when Microsoft bought Skype in 2011. Mr. Bates has been handed more and more duties since then, including being put in charge of Microsoft's Lync video teleconference product. Mr. Bates is now responsible for wrangling Microsoft's often fraught relationships with characters that include PC makers, chip makers, smartphone partner Nokia Corp. (NOK) and other software developers. He's one of the few members of the executive bench that has logged significant time as an executive anywhere but Microsoft.
Qi Lu, executive vice president, applications and services: Mr. Lu has been running Microsoft's money-losing Bing Web- search engine, and he recently took over big chunks of the company's software products, including the cash cow Office bundle of workplace software. ###
- Eric - |
