Gates: So, Steve, how are we coming along with your replacement?
Ballmer: I don't know, man. We've got a lot of resumes here from the search firm but don't really have any standouts since Alan (Mulally) turned us down on CNBC. Board has been pretty mum.
Gates: Yeah, that kind of stinks. With all the money the company is making right now, we probably don't even need a CEO. (Note: Microsoft reported a 4Q 2013 profit of $3 billion earlier this week.)
Ballmer: Bill, it's not all about money. Strategy is critical to long-term performance of the company.
Gates: Easy for you to say. Didn't you come up with what we're doing now? Back in my day, that other guy with the Macintosh was hard to track. We just went with something simple like a computer for every desktop. Everything fell into place right after IBM turned us down.
Ballmer: Things are a lot more complex today. We are an extremely large matrixed organization. So many devices, so little time. That's why we have to move more in that market-driven direction after missing out on Search.
Gates: Good point. I love playing bridge with Warren on my Surface tablet. You think we can sell more of those?
Ballmer: Someday, maybe. For right now, let's keep updating Windows.
Gates: Sounds like a plan. So who is on top of the resume list, anyone more interesting and connected than me?
Microsoft currently does not have anyone technically filling the CEO position. It's been that way since last August when previous CEO, Steve Ballmer, announced his retirement. A firm re-branding as a leadership company with an interim CEO is currently assisting with the search.
See more here: http://povblogger.blogspot.com/2013/12/searching-constantly-searching.html.
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