Microsoft's Search for a CEO Will Continue into 2014

Microsoft is a company that has only had two CEO's in it's 38-year history, and the company doesn't seem to be in that big of a hurry to pick its third CEO. Today they announced that their search for a new CEO will continue into next year and complete "in the early part of 2014."

While this news is not totally unexpected, it did seem to come as a shock to some as shares of Microsoft fell on this news.  They did however update you on how the search is going in the press release that accompanied the news:

After defining our criteria, we initially cast a wide net across a number of different industries and skill sets. We identified over 100 possible candidates, talked with several dozen, and then focused our energy intensely on a group of about 20 individuals, all extremely impressive in their own right. As you would expect, as this group has narrowed, we’ve done deeper research and investigation, including with the full Board. We’re moving ahead well, and I expect we’ll complete our work in the early part of 2014.

There have been a few names bounced around recently but they are simply guesses at this point and are not worth mentioning. Whomever it will be will need to navigate the company through some important times. Between the push back on the transition from consumers to the more touch based friendly Windows 8, the new mobile division, Xbox One's leftover image issue, etc...someone has really got their work cut out for them.
VIA