The latest on the Microsoft CEO news came out today, as the Associated Press is reporting that Alan Mulally, current Ford CEO and considered to be a leading front runner for the position left open by Steve Ballmer’s announcement in xxx that he would be stepping down sometime within a year, will not be taking the job. Although the AP does not quote Mulally directly, they posted a few short paragraphs indicating that Mulally plans to stay at Ford:
Ford CEO Alan Mulally says he will not leave the automaker for Microsoft and will stay at Ford at least through 2014.
Mulally is widely credited with saving Ford after being hired away from Boeing in 2006. But in recent months there have been numerous reports that he was in the running for the top job at Microsoft, where CEO Steve Ballmer has said he plans to leave the company sometime this year.
In an interview with The Associated Press Tuesday, Mulally said he wanted to end the Microsoft speculation. He wouldn’t say if he had talked with the software giant.
Mulally said he has no plans other than to serve Ford.
Microsoft has not said anything officially about the job search, except for a short post by board member John W. Thompson the week before Christmas, offering a few details about the job search and indicating an expectation that “we’ll complete our work in the early part of 2014”.
A post late last week in the Wall St. Journal pointed to the “awkward boardroom dynamics” caused by the presence of not only founder Bill Gates, but also outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer on the board. According to the Journal:
At least some external executives who discussed the CEO job with Microsoft directors have expressed concerns about being hamstrung if the two men continue to serve on the board, according to people familiar with their thinking.
While the guessing game as to who will be the next CEO is highly popular, it’s mostly guessing, as Wes Miller pointed out yesterday on Twitter:
People involved in the CEO search aren't likely talking, & people who are talking aren't likely involved in the CEO search.
— Wes Miller (@getwired) January 5, 2014
We’re still holding out for a surprise name to come to the forefront, although there aren’t many people in the world capable of running a company with both the clout and the quirks of Microsoft.
About the only thing that we do know, if the AP is correct, is that Mulally won’t be the next CEO, and that we should be finding out who will soon.
