Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer Announces Retirement

<p>Microsoft&&num;8217&semi;s current CEO Steve Ballmer will be retiring within the year&comma; the company has <a href&equals;"http&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;microsoft&period;com&sol;en-us&sol;news&sol;press&sol;2013&sol;aug13&sol;08-23AnnouncementPR&period;aspx">announced<&sol;a>&period; Between now and the time his successor is chosen&comma; however&comma; he will continue working as the CEO&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;There is never a perfect time for this type of transition&comma; but now is the right time&comma;” Ballmer said&period; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We have embarked on a new strategy with a new organization and we have an amazing Senior Leadership Team&period; 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&period; We need a CEO who will be here longer term for this new direction&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>A new CEO will be chosen by a special committee created by the Board of Directors&period; This committee currently includes the board’s lead independent director <span style&equals;"font-size&colon; 13px&semi;">John Thompson&comma; <&sol;span><span style&equals;"font-size&colon; 13px&semi;">Chairman of the Board Bill Gates&comma; Chairman of the Audit Committee Chuck Noski and Chairman of the Compensation Committee Steve Luczo&period;<&sol;span><span style&equals;"font-size&colon; 13px&semi;"> Internal and External candidates will both be considered for the position&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;As a member of the succession planning committee&comma; I’ll work closely with the other members of the board to identify a great new CEO&comma;” said Gates&period; &OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;We’re fortunate to have Steve in his role until the new CEO assumes these duties&period;”<&sol;p>&NewLine;