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Microsoft Confirms That CEO Steve Ballmer Will Be Retiring In The Next 12 Months

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Microsoft Confirms That CEO Steve Ballmer Will Be Retiring In The Next 12 Months

In a fairly unsurprising announcement Microsoft has stated that its current CEO Steve Ballmer will be retiring within the next 12 months. Ballmer will continue to serve as the chief executive officer until a viable successor can be found to aid in its transformation into a devices and services company. “There is never a perfect time […]

The post Microsoft Confirms That CEO Steve Ballmer Will Be Retiring In The Next 12 Months appeared first on iJailbreak | Unconventional Jailbreak And iOS News.

In a fairly unsurprising announcement Microsoft has stated that its current CEO Steve Ballmer will be retiring within the next 12 months. Ballmer will continue to serve as the chief executive officer until a viable successor can be found to aid in its transformation into a devices and services company.

“There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,” Ballmer said.

“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.”

Back in June 1980 is when Ballmer join Microsoft as the company’s first business manager and over the course of the next 20 years he would head several divisions, leading to his promotion as CEO in January 2000 when Bill Gates stepped down.

Microsoft Confirms CEO Steve Ballmer Will Be Retiring

Microsoft shares actually went up about eight percent in pre-market trading after the announcement, which means investors are happy that the Redmond company is looking for a new CEO to breath some new life into the company.

There will be a special committee formed by the Board of Directors, which includes Chairman of the Board, Bill Gates, to find Ballmer’s replacement. This committee will work with Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., a leading executive recruiting firm, to consider both internal and external candidates.

“As a member of the succession planning committee, I’ll work closely with the other members of the board to identify a great new CEO,” said Bill Gates. “We’re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO assumes these duties.”

Ballmer wrote the following email and sent it to his staff explaining the move:

I am writing to let you know that I will retire as CEO of Microsoft within the next 12 months, after a successor is chosen. There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time. My original thoughts on timing would have had my retirement happen in the middle of our transformation to a devices and services company focused on empowering customers in the activities they value most. We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction. You can read the press release on Microsoft News Center.

This is a time of important transformation for Microsoft. Our new Senior Leadership team is amazing. The strategy we have generated is first class. Our new organization, which is centered on functions and engineering areas, is right for the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Microsoft is an amazing place. I love this company. I love the way we helped invent and popularize computing and the PC. I love the bigness and boldness of our bets. I love our people and their talent and our willingness to accept and embrace their range of capabilities, including their quirks. I love the way we embrace and work with other companies to change the world and succeed together. I love the breadth and diversity of our customers, from consumer to enterprise, across industries, countries, and people of all backgrounds and age groups.

I am proud of what we have achieved. We have grown from $7.5 million to nearly $78 billion since I joined Microsoft, and we have grown from employing just over 30 people to almost 100,000. I feel good about playing a role in that success and having committed 100 percent emotionally all the way. We have more than 1 billion users and earn a great profit for our shareholders. We have delivered more profit and cash return to shareholders than virtually any other company in history.

I am excited by our mission of empowering the world and believe in our future success. I cherish my Microsoft ownership, and look forward to continuing as one of Microsoft’s largest owners.

This is an emotional and difficult thing for me to do. I take this step in the best interests of the company I love; it is the thing outside of my family and closest friends that matters to me most.

Microsoft has all its best days ahead. Know you are part of the best team in the industry and have the right technology assets. We cannot and will not miss a beat in these transitions. I am focused and driving hard and know I can count on all of you to do the same. Let’s do ourselves proud.

Steve

Critics have been slamming Ballmer for some time now saying that he wasn’t fit for the job anymore and it is safe to say that Microsoft agrees it is time to think about the long-term success of the company.

One thing is certain though… we will sure miss his energy.

The post Microsoft Confirms That CEO Steve Ballmer Will Be Retiring In The Next 12 Months appeared first on iJailbreak | Unconventional Jailbreak And iOS News.

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