Exit inden et år
Inden for et år er Steve Ballmer ikke længere direktør for Microsoft.
Det bekræfter firmaet i en pressemeddelelse. Bestyrelsen bekræfter samtidigt, at der allerede er sat en jagt ind på Ballmers efterfølger - og at Bill Gates skal deltage i udvægelsen.
Beslutningen om at forlade Microsoft skulle ifølge pressemeddelelsen være Ballmers egen beslutning, og han bliver siddende på posten, til hans efterfølger er fundet.
Gennem tiden er det ellers blevet påstået, at Ballmers tilstedeværelse er Microsofts største trussel. Og at Ballmer måske er grunden til, at Microsoft aldrig fik fat i lukrative områder som tablets og smartphones.
Microsoft-aktien er dog også steget til vejrs i dag efter offentliggørelsen.
En karismatisk direktør
De seneste regnskabstal har dog været fornuftige for Microsoft. Analytikernes kritik går nu på, om Microsoft vil være i stand til at skabe indtjening på nye områder ud over de meget indbringende Windows og Office-produkter.
Steve Ballmer er kendt som firmaets mand. Blandt andet manifesteret i sætningen: "I love this company".
Han blev i 1980 ansat som den 30. ansatte i Microsoft og den første egentlige ansatte med fokus på forretning/markedsføring. Han har været administrerende direktør for Microsoft siden 2000.
I sit farvel-brev til de ansatte forklarer Ballmer, at tidspunktet er rigtigt nu, fordi det er på tide at finde en lederfigur med en længere holdbarhedsdato end ham selv, der skal fortsætte Microsofts overgang fra software til service-virksomhed.
Læs også: Da Ballmer gik ud, gik aktiekursen op
Her er Ballmers farvel-brev
Steve Ballmer har angiveligt sendt følgende mail til sine ansatte:
From: Steve Ballmer
Sent: Friday, August 23, 2013 6:03 AM
To: Microsoft - All Employees (QBDG)
Subject: Moving Forward
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
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