Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to retire

HarryT · 08-23-2013, 10:56 AM

A bit of a bombshell announced today, as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who's been the visible "face" of Microsoft since the retirement of Bill Gates, announced that he is to retire within the next 12 months.

As BBC News reports the story:

Quote:

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer is to retire from the technology giant within the next 12 months.

Shares in Microsoft, criticised for its slow response to the booming market for mobile devices, leapt 9% on the news.

Mr Ballmer, who last month unveiled a restructuring to address the criticism, said in a statement: "There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time.

"We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction."

The world's biggest software company has created a special committee to find a replacement. This committee includes Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Mr Ballmer, 57, succeeded Mr Gates in 2000. The two men met in 1973 while studying at Harvard University, and Mr Ballmer joined the company in 1980.
...

Full story at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23815563

Sounds as if the stock market at least thinks that this will be good for Microsoft, especially in the area of mobile devices.

tubemonkey · 08-23-2013, 11:46 AM

About time! ...and the sooner, the better!

chexmix · 08-23-2013, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

About time! ...and the sooner, the better!

Developers, developers, developers, developers ... (et seq. ad infinitum).

fjtorres · 08-23-2013, 12:58 PM

The betting pool is open:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57...microsoft-ceo/

My money is on Patty Stonesifer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Stonesifer

ilovejedd · 08-23-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

A bit of a bombshell announced today, as Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who's been the visible "face" of Microsoft since the retirement of Bill Gates, announced that he is to retire within the next 12 months.

Long overdue.

pilotbob · 08-23-2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

About time! ...and the sooner, the better!

Why? Based on revenue and profits MS has been doing very well. The stock doesn't reflect that because they are not "cool" like Apple and Google... and heck Facebook even.

Although, it would be funny if the most shareholder value Balmer created was that which happened when he retired.

BOb

pl001 · 08-23-2013, 01:25 PM

Ballmer lead Microsoft through a lot of great ideas that ended up poorly executed. And his ignoring the mobile market cost them dearly.

At some point he had to be held accountable.

Kumabjorn · 08-23-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Long overdue.

This!
I have a hard time fathom why this wasn't done at least three years ago.
Microsoft got to the top by revolutionizing how computers were used (not by hardware, but by software and how they structured their deal with IBM for DOS) but they grew fat and sloppy just like the corporations they used to criticize. Time for some true innovation again. More mavericks, less committees.

doctorow · 08-23-2013, 01:42 PM

10 years too late.

pilotbob · 08-23-2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

This!
I have a hard time fathom why this wasn't done at least three years ago.
Microsoft got to the top by revolutionizing how computers were used (not by hardware, but by software and how they structured their deal with IBM for DOS) but they grew fat and sloppy just like the corporations they used to criticize. Time for some true innovation again. More mavericks, less committees.

Hmm... what MS are you talking about? The one from the 90s, or todays?

Not everything you put out there is going to succeed. Apple has failures as well. No one is perfect.

Azure, Bing, Windows Phone 8 (which iOS 7 is copying some concepts of) is gaining market share, XBox 360 which took over the game console market, Office 365, Outlook.com etc are all doing well.

But, isn't it the bottom line that is important... MS's revenue and profits are staggering. Heck, I'd be happy with 1 of their revenue streams.

BOb

HarryT · 08-23-2013, 02:17 PM

Bill Gates and I started our respective software businesses in the same year. I sure wish I'd done as well as Microsoft have

.

pilotbob · 08-23-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Bill Gates and I started our respective software businesses in the same year. I sure wish I'd done as well as Microsoft have

.

While Ballmer was CEO, Microsoft grew revenue by $55B. Dell grew by $31B, Oracle by $27B, Intel by $19B, IBM by $16B.

BOb

SteveEisenberg · 08-23-2013, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I have a hard time fathom why this wasn't done at least three years ago.

When you are fired, you don't get a year to leave. So this would seem to be his decision. I presume that he liked his job three years ago and now, not so much.

Quote:

Microsoft got to the top by revolutionizing how computers were used (not by hardware, but by software and how they structured their deal with IBM for DOS) but they grew fat and sloppy just like the corporations they used to criticize.

The Microsoft sales force must have been really PO'd for upper management to be criticizing potential, or actual, customers.

I don't recall that, when I switched from Apple II to PC, it revolutionized how I used my computer. However, it could be that if I played video games, I'd look at it differently.

It did revolutionize how I purchased my computers. Apple II -- purchased used, although I got started by receiving a very generous gift. PC - usually built from parts.

SeaKing · 08-23-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorow

10 years too late.

Aye, Aye and Aye again!

BWinmill · 08-23-2013, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

While Ballmer was CEO, Microsoft grew revenue by $55B. Dell grew by $31B, Oracle by $27B, Intel by $19B, IBM by $16B.

You can't use reason with people who refuse to listen.

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08-23-2013, 11:46 AM	#2
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,853 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	About time! ...and the sooner, the better!

08-23-2013, 12:58 PM	#4
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	The betting pool is open: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57...microsoft-ceo/ My money is on Patty Stonesifer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Stonesifer

08-23-2013, 01:25 PM	#7
pl001 Evangelist Posts: 459 Karma: 4818038 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Nook, Nook Color, EVO3D, Surface RT, Galaxy S5, Surface 3	Ballmer lead Microsoft through a lot of great ideas that ended up poorly executed. And his ignoring the mobile market cost them dearly. At some point he had to be held accountable.

08-23-2013, 01:42 PM	#9
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	10 years too late.

08-23-2013, 02:17 PM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Bill Gates and I started our respective software businesses in the same year. I sure wish I'd done as well as Microsoft have .