Bloomberg reports Microsoft is set to hand the mantle of CEO to no other than enterprise and cloud chief Satya Nadella, while Bill Gates is to be replaced as chairman.
According to anonymous "people with knowledge" replacing Bill Gates is lead independent director John Thompson. However the Microsoft founder will not be wholly out of the company, since he reportedly wants to be more involved in areas such as product development.
A 20-year Microsoft veteran, Nadella was in charge of the server and tools business, a division renamed as enterprise and cloud following the most recent Microsoft executive reshuffle. He also has experience in online services research and development, and was business division VP. He would be the 3rd CEO in Microsoft history, following Gates and Steve Ballmer, who's to retire on August 2014.
Other names the rumour mill suggests including Microsoft exec. VP Tony Bates, COO Kevin Turner, ex-Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Ford CEO Alan Mulally, Qualcom CEO Steven Mollenkopf and Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg.
However analysts say Microsoft would change even further if Gates is no longer chairman, a role he occupied since 1981. According to FBR Capital Markets, if Microsoft needs an outsider as chairman if gets an insider CEO. "[I]t’s obvious Microsoft needs change in terms of strategy in terms of the next leg of growth," the analyst tells Bloomberg.
Thompson joined the Microsoft board in 2012, and has a history as longtime IBM and Symantec exec. He is known to ask tough questions to top execs, and reportedly helped speed Ballmer's decision to retirement, Bloomberg says.
Go Microsoft Said to Be Preparing to Make Satya Nadella CEO (Bloomberg)
