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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><br /><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div class="zemanta-img"><br /><div class="zemanta-img"><br /><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Ballmer_at_CES_2010_cropped.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, presents his pre..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="359" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Steve_Ballmer_at_CES_2010_cropped.jpg/300px-Steve_Ballmer_at_CES_2010_cropped.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></td></tr><br /><tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">Microsoft<br /> CEO, Steve Ballmer, presents his pre-show keynote at the 2010 <br />International CES in Las Vegas Wednesday evening. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Ballmer_at_CES_2010_cropped.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr><br /></tbody></table><br />For the past 13 years, <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/exec/steve/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Steve Ballmer">Steve Ballmer</a> has ruled <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=47.6395972222,-122.12845&spn=0.01,0.01&q=47.6395972222,-122.12845%20%28Microsoft%29&t=h" rel="geolocation" target="_blank" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a><br /> as its  CEO. He oversaw the rollout of four Windows operating systems <br />including  the most recent Windows 8. Most of us thought he’d be around <br />for the  release of <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.microsoft.com/WINDOWS" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Windows">Windows 9</a>, or whatever else is next, but it looks like the  CEO that wouldn’t quit is finally doing just that. <br /><br />Ballmer announced today that he will be retiring within the next 12  months. He doesn’t give an exact date as his <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Retirement">retirement</a><br /> is entirely  dependent upon the company finding his successor. Oh, and <br />before you  ask, there’s no word yet either on who might be replacing <br />him. <br /><br />So, why is Ballmer choosing now to retire? After all, he just announced a <a href="http://www.webpronews.com/ballmer-outlines-microsofts-big-restructuring-2013-07">massive restructuring plan</a><br />  that will see Microsoft transition into a devices and services <br />company.  Surely he would want to be around for that, right? Well, a<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Aug13/08-23StatementPR.aspx">ccording to an internal email</a> to all Microsoft employees, Ballmer says that was the original plan: <br /><br /><blockquote><br /><i>There<br /> is never a perfect time for this type of  transition, but now is the <br />right time. My original thoughts on timing  would have had my retirement<br /> happen in the middle of our transformation  to a devices and services <br />company focused on empowering customers in the  activities they value <br />most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term  for this new <br />direction. </i></blockquote><br />Ballmer’s logic is surprisingly <br />sound. The transition to a devices  and services company will take a <br />long time, and he isn’t getting any  younger. Microsoft is going to need<br /> a younger <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_management" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Senior management">executive team</a> that can  stick it out for the long haul. <br /><br />In<br /> regards to that executive team, Ballmer is optimistic that the  current<br /> team in place will help move Microsoft into its next phase of  growth: <br /><br /><blockquote><br /><i>This<br /> is a time of important transformation for  Microsoft. Our new Senior <br />Leadership team is amazing. The strategy we  have generated is first <br />class. Our new organization, which is centered  on functions and <br />engineering areas, is right for the opportunities and  challenges ahead.<br /> </i><br /><br /><i> Microsoft is an amazing place. I love this company. I love the way we  helped invent and popularize computing and the <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computer" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Personal computer">PC</a>.<br /> I love the bigness  and boldness of our bets. I love our people and <br />their talent and our  willingness to accept and embrace their range of <br />capabilities, including  their quirks. I love the way we embrace and <br />work with other companies  to change the world and succeed together. I <br />love the breadth and  diversity of our customers, from consumer to <br />enterprise, across  industries, countries, and people of all backgrounds<br /> and age groups.<br /><br /></i><i>I am proud of what we have achieved. We have grown from $7.5  <br />million to nearly $78 billion since I joined Microsoft, and we have  <br />grown from employing just over 30 people to almost 100,000. I feel good <br /> about playing a role in that success and having committed 100 percent  <br />emotionally all the way. We have more than 1 billion users and earn a  <br />great profit for our shareholders. We have delivered more profit and  <br />cash return to shareholders than virtually any other company in history.</i></blockquote><br />As stated above, Microsoft is just starting to look for Ballmer’s  replacement. The company’s <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_directors" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Board of directors">Board of Directors</a> has put together a  committee comprised of Bill <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gates" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="John Gates">Gates, John</a> Thompson and others who will  consider potential candidates from inside and outside of the company. <br /><br />“As<br /> a member of the succession planning committee, I’ll work closely  with <br />the other members of the board to identify a great new CEO,” said  <br />Gates. “We’re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO  <br />assumes these duties.” <br /><br />Until Microsoft announces a successor, let the speculation begin. I would bet on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/ssinofsky/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Steven Sinofsky">Steven Sinofsky</a> if he was <a href="http://www.webpronews.com/windows-boss-steven-sinofsky-leaves-microsoft-2012-11">still with the company</a>, but that’s <a href="http://www.webpronews.com/former-windows-boss-steven-sinofsky-will-be-an-executive-in-residence-at-harvard-2012-12">unlikely to happen</a> now. <br /><br />[Image: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steve_Ballmer_at_CES_2010_cropped.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>]<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><br /><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_h.png?x-id=d3738245-eb4d-4324-bcf2-584d953d4541" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div><br /></div><br />

Steve Ballmer To Retire As Microsoft CEO Within 12 Months

Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, presents his pre-show keynote at the 2010 International CES in Las Vegas Wednesday evening. (Photo credit: Wi...

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