Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to retire within 12 months

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by stapp, Aug 23, 2013.

  1. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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  2. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    Excellent.... :)
     
  3. FreddyFreeloader

    FreddyFreeloader Registered Member

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    Not supported by Microsoft soon, Windows XP, Steve Ballmer.
     
  4. Rainwalker

    Rainwalker Registered Member

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  5. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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  6. Mman79

    Mman79 Registered Member

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    You know, knowing Wall Street the shares could have jumped up for a ton of reasons. But it just has to feel a little rough that the shares in your company goes up in price when you announce you're leaving :D

    I honestly think this was a good idea. Ballmer had a few positives, but he wasn't anywhere near a Bill Gates (not that Gates was 100% spectacular mind you) and the company and its products have paid for that. It's too late to turn back from some mistakes like Windows 8, at least short term. But, some like the continued ignorance of Bing could be changed rather quickly. If I were the new guy, I'd take a new look at the Surface and do something to fix the continued app store failure.

    I only hope that the new guy isn't a "Ballmer guy". MS doesn't need Ballmer v2 or even a watered down Ballmer. It needs someone completely fresh.
     
  7. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    Here's to Microsoft putting the Windows 8 fiasco behind it.
     
  8. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    I give 'em a few more years before they regain their sanity.... Ballmer or no Ballmer..
     
  9. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I hate to wish anyone out of a job (though I doubt he needs the money) but I am excited for what could happen, IF they pick the right replacement.
     
  10. siljaline

    siljaline Registered Member

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  11. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I'd take Vista over Win 8 any day!
     
  12. tgell

    tgell Registered Member

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  13. Mman79

    Mman79 Registered Member

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    Eh, that's standard practice for corporations. Cook is in the same position, though they tweaked his contract to make him stay longer. Zuckerberg will be even richer when he decides to step out, though he may be one of the few that won't actually ever be replaced, barring death or some other extreme circumstance.
     
  14. Mman79

    Mman79 Registered Member

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    I don't know about that, but I'd agree that Vista didn't go well. I think I'd regret the completely out of the blue and needless change in the desktop operating system with 8. It should have never, ever seen a desktop. I'd regret my very late and badly done entrance into mobile as well, but that one is fixable.
     
  15. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    Yeah, but at least they fixed Vista. ;)
     
  16. NormanF

    NormanF Registered Member

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    With Windows 7! To be fair, after the first service pack, Vista was a pretty stable system. Its been maligned but it was no Windows Me. That was by far the worst operating system Microsoft ever came out with. It made people want to go back to Windows 98. :isay:
     
  17. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    Luckily I never used ME. I've heard many horror stories though.
     
  18. Kerodo

    Kerodo Registered Member

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    ME actually had memory leaks, it was that bad. I bought a machine with ME and within a month I wiped it clean and replaced it with Win 2000, which was fantastic.
     
  19. Mman79

    Mman79 Registered Member

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    ME was godawful, but I had it for a good while. If I remember right, it drove me over to Red Hat for a time, lol.

    Anyway, I really hope someone decent replaces Ballmer. There is both good and bad in the fact that he's pretty much the last remains of the "old guard". I'm kind of afraid of the new blood pushing the cloud and other crap even more. As always, we'll see.
     
  20. cruelsister

    cruelsister Registered Member

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    Kerodo- I assume you trade as you referenced a WSJ article. Best way to profit from this stock move today is by selling a call spread. MSFT will drop down next week as euphoria passes. Ballmer's exit won't cause PC sales to pick up.
     
  21. guest

    guest Guest

    Hopefully not. Otherwise I'm done with Windows, or at least stick with 8 till I die. :isay:
     
  22. safeguy

    safeguy Registered Member

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    12 months to go before I step in to take over the role. I promise you guys I'd be better than any other CEO on the planet. :p

    P.S. Believing the above words is equivalent to believing that the world will end tomorrow.
     
  23. Mman79

    Mman79 Registered Member

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    Considering a good portion of the current tech CEOs, it's not that difficult to be better. And the world is always one large asteroid strike away..or a really upset guy with nukes :D
     
  24. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I remember using Win 2000. Didn't that last for quite a while until XP?
     
  25. cruelsister

    cruelsister Registered Member

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    Email from MSFT employees are making the rounds- Ballmer email:



    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


    ps- What does "We have grown from $7.5 million to nearly $78 billion" mean? Microsoft's market cap today is a very little bit short of 290 billion. Maybe he gets the 212 billion difference as a severance.
     
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