Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, Announces Retirement

Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer has announced his intention to retire from the tech giant founded by Bill Gates sometime over the next twelve months. A search committee is seeking a successor.

Ballmer, 57, stated in making the announcement delivered through a through a company, ““There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,” Ballmer is quoted as saying in a press release. “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.”

Ballmer who has helmed the ship since the departure of founder Bill Gates, who left to engage in full-time philanthropy, spoke in March of 2009 digital Hollywood Conference on the void of leadership without him:  “It’s one of those things. It’s different. We have a lot of people who are stepping up and growing in new ways. There’s no question about that. I’m growing in some new ways. Some of the senior technical guys are growing. We miss Bill. On the other hand Bill is doing something important. Take a look at Windows 7. It’s a great piece of work and it was driven by a team independent of Bill and his leadership. We all feel pretty good about it. We have to finish it and when we know when it’s going to be finished we’ll let everyone know."

During the same conference Ballmer stated his intention to stay with the Redmond Washington based tech company until his son finished college which would have kept been 2018.

Microsoft Board member John Thompson is heading the search committee.

Microsoft latest Q3 2013 earnings posted 606 billion in profit and 20.49 billion in revenue. The company went public in 1986. Microsoft Board member John Thompson is heading the search committee.

This is a developing story.

 

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