Elop and Mulally make Microsoft shortlist for next chief executive
MICROSOFT has reportedly narrowed its list of candidates to replace chief executive Steve Ballmer, with five candidates vying for the role including former Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop and Ford Motor chief Alan Mulally.
The shortlist includes three internal candidates, Skype chief Tony Bates who is responsible for Microsoft’s business development; Satya Nadella, the company’s cloud and enterprise chief; and a third unknown internal candidate, according to reports.
But bookies are more bullish about the external candidates on the list. Ladbrokes currently rates Elop as the standout favourite with 1/6 odds and Mulally in a close second place with 6/1 odds.
Microsoft founder and former chief executive Bill Gates this week reiterated his decision not to return to the day-to-day running of the company, instead focusing on his humanitarian work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.