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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to Retire 'Within 12 Months'
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Start here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/Press/2013/Aug13/08-23StatementPR.aspx
And then read this: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/aug13/08-23AnnouncementPR.aspx
He was thrown out on his ass.
Nvm I misread the other guy's post. Thought he was saying the board was responsible for the reorg
Damn.
Steve Ballmer at Microsoft was like killing cancer by giving the cancer cancer. Now it's gonna cure itself.
Steve Ballmer at Microsoft was like killing cancer by giving the cancer cancer. Now it's gonna cure itself.
"Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to be Retired 'Within 12 Months'"
In a year, we'll see him peddling grey market Surface tablets out of his trunk...
In a year, we'll see him peddling grey market Surface tablets out of his trunk...
The fact that Office exists on the Mac means nothing. They restrict the growth of Office because doing so provides a lock-in to Windows.
While I personally think there are lots of people who would like to get off Windows I've yet to see any evidence that "most people don't feel compelled to buy Windows ever again." Also, while I'd like to see their strangle-hold they have on users (thanks to assets such as Office), I think they're a long ways off from realising that. I think moves like making iWork for iCloud free to users (and perhaps iWork for OS X free) will absolutely be a step in that direction, but I think they've got awhile before that company is doomed (without changing anything about the direction they're headed).
As for Nintendo on iOS, Nintendo's assets like Mario are exactly like Office to Microsoft. While it would be great to get that on iOS, the moment it does spells potential doom for their hardware, and while that may sound like an easy change for a company, it's actually quite a huge change, one that many companies simply can't realise or survive. It's not merely a change of mind, but a complete change from top to bottom how a company operates. Not saying it won't happen -> Sega did it, so perhaps it will, I'd love to see it, but I don't own any Nintendo (consoles or handhelds) anymore but miss some of their titles.
Adapt or die, like I said MS has awhile before they will die (too much annuity revenue to be milked from existing assets without any changed), and I also don't think Office is as valuable an asset as you imply. Once iWork goes free, the value of Office immediately is reduced for 80-90% of Office purchases, because they simply don't need the extra functionality Office (with price tag) provides over free software available cross-platform. Office isn't without value, but it's future is not so bright and it's lock-in role to Windows is pretty much dissolving before our eyes.
I was beginning to wonder if he was going to be allowed to occupy the office until he was mummified. 
Ouch! I hadn't seen that until you pointed it out.
In truth though, that kind of makes sense. The whole point of making executives major shareholders is to align their incentives with the best interest of the company. Balmer leaving is in the best interest of the company, and his incentives reduced the resistance to following that course.
In truth, I think Balmer holds his personal ego above his income, but at least all his incentives weren't aligned against the right decision.
What has to really be a punch to the ego though is that this is pretty much the highest the stock has been since he came on as CEO more than 13 years ago... It was 40 at the start of 2000, had a very narrow blip to 35 around 2007, and is back to 35 now. When the stock dives on your promotion, and jumps on your retirement, and stays uniformly low during your tenure, that's gotta say something.
There is one guy who comes to mind. Léo Apotheker. That guy took HP down the crapper quicker than anyone could have ever imagined.
This smacks of a forced retirement. Microsoft, for all of its recent cock-ups, has very talented accountants, that both recognize that the general trend of the labor participation rate, and consequently disposable income, is firmly into the toilet, and also that doubling down on a losing $850mn hardware bet when others are doing it better and cheaper, even with your own architecture, can't be tolerated. If it were any other tech company with even a quarter less market penetration, Ballmer would've "retired" five years ago.
Personally, I always viewed him as sort of the Lyndon Johnson of the tech world: loud, usually good for a laugh, brought to his position by someone of immeasurably greater talent, and consistently capable of effing up something as simple as boiling water.
Personally, I always viewed him as sort of the Lyndon Johnson of the tech world: loud, usually good for a laugh, brought to his position by someone of immeasurably greater talent, and consistently capable of effing up something as simple as boiling water.
Devices and Services
Microsoft's new plan it to become a "Devices and Services" company, in the model of Apple. That is the restructing Ballmer has already started.
If Microsoft is to be successful in this new model, then it would need a CEO who is innovative and can imagine cool new devices. If he was still alive, my nominee would be:
Microsoft's new plan it to become a "Devices and Services" company, in the model of Apple. That is the restructing Ballmer has already started.
If Microsoft is to be successful in this new model, then it would need a CEO who is innovative and can imagine cool new devices. If he was still alive, my nominee would be:
Nintendo is already there with their hardware. It's consistently underpowered, which isn't really a problem when they stick to their arcade roots and focus on games rather than "plot" (endless 3D cutscenes) and "creativity" (effects-drenched rubbish), but they're trying to compete with MS and Sony on their terms and getting trounced for their efforts. Wii U sales are a joke, their major IPs are exhausted or AWOL till 2014 at the earliest, and third-party support might as well be non-existent.
Microsoft is in the midst of an identity crisis. Are they a consumer company or enterprise company? I'm not sure they can be both.
They need a 1997 era Steve Jobs to tear the company hierarchy a part and start again.
It is sad to see the two original tech giants at a crossroads. Microsoft has had some innovative products during the Balmer era including Windows Media Center, XBOX, Windows Phone and even Windows 8. They need to go back to their roots and create another Windows 95.
They need a 1997 era Steve Jobs to tear the company hierarchy a part and start again.
It is sad to see the two original tech giants at a crossroads. Microsoft has had some innovative products during the Balmer era including Windows Media Center, XBOX, Windows Phone and even Windows 8. They need to go back to their roots and create another Windows 95.
re: original article
glad to hear he is getting out of the picture
one word definition of him - obnoxious
glad to hear he is getting out of the picture
one word definition of him - obnoxious
The most likely scenario.
The Board and many MS investors had probably been demanding Ballmer's resignation for some time. Not sure how much of the company Gates still owns, but sitting on the Board, I'm sure that Gates had long felt pressure to boot his long-time pal. Eventually, even Gates had to cave in.