Friday, August 23, 2013

Ballmer to Leave Microsoft: Getting out While the Getting is Good

Well, there was a so-called Ballmer Bounce when he announced his early retirement. On of the worst CEO of modern times pretty much did this with one of the largest companies in the US.

After 33 years at Microsoft (MSFT), the last 13 spent as CEO, Steve Ballmer is surely due the quintessential gold watch for his dedicated service to the company. And yet, in announcing his plan to step down in the next twelve months, the 57 year old outgoing executive is more likely to receive a ration of ridicule for leading the world's largest software company essentially nowhere during his tenure, having inherited a $50 stock in January 2000 that is trading at $35 today.

Yup 13 years at the helm and the stock is down during that period. This is after growing and bringing in cash nearly every year. Now the company is facing all sorts of competition from nearly every corner and their main business of Windows and Office is slowly dying. I mean personal computer sales are nosediving and that is pretty much their cash cow for decades. The guy that replaces him has quite a tall order fixing 13 years of mismanagement and stupidity.

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