The latest reports of a possible move by Alan Mulally to head Microsoft said the giant software maker’s board is focusing on the Ford CEO and internal executive Satya Nadella who are part of a group of candidates.
“People familiar with the matter” have told Bloomberg News internal candidate Tony Bates and former Nokia Oyj CEO Stephen Elop are still in the running but considered less likely to be offered the job. Other people being considered could emerge as front runners, a source said.
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Spokespeople at Microsoft and Nokia declined to comment to the news agency while Ford spokesman Jay Cooney said: “There is no change from what we announced last November. Alan remains completely focused on executing our One Ford plan. We do not engage in speculation.”
Microsoft’s board met on 18 November to discuss the CEO search, Bloomberg noted, and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said at a shareholder meeting recently he and other directors have met with “a lot of CEO candidates.” He declined to give a timeline for the decision, adding that “it’s a complex role to fill.”
The board is aiming to have a CEO decision this year, though an announcement could be pushed back until early next year, a source said.
