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 The world's biggest software company is down to a "handful" of
candidates with no clear leader, including a hitherto unconsidered
technology executive, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters
this week.
In the past few months, most attention has focused on Ford Motor Co
CEO Alan Mulally, a friend of Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's current CEO
who announced his plans to retire earlier this year. Mulally is
credited with rescuing the beleaguered auto giant, but sources said
an external tech executive is in the running, plus one or two
internal executives.
Microsoft declined comment on its CEO search, and Qualcomm declined
comment on Mollenkopf's potential candidacy.
People familiar with the process expect Microsoft to select a new
CEO before the end of the year, although the committee formed to
find Ballmer's successor gave itself 12 months to do its work when
it was formed in August.
Mulally, who helped Ballmer create his 'One Microsoft' overhaul and
has seemed so far to be the most likely candidate to succeed him, is
under pressure this week from Ford's board to clarify his plans.
"I love serving Ford," Mulally told Reuters on Thursday, without
addressing the speculation surrounding him.
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Mollenkopf, an engineer who holds several wireless patents and has
risen to the top management ranks at Qualcomm since joining the
company in 1994, appears to meet the requirements of the Microsoft
CEO job laid out by Chairman Bill Gates last month.
According to Gates, Microsoft needs a CEO who can run a "complex
global business" and "work with our top technical talent."
(Reporting by Bill Rigby; editing by
Lisa Shumaker)
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