“Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is not the right leader for the world’s largest software company but holds his grip on it by systematically forcing out any rising manager who challenges his authority, claims a former senior executive who has written a book about his time at the company,” Bill Rigby reports for Reuters.
“‘For Microsoft to really get back in the game seriously, you need a big change in management,’ said Joachim Kempin, who worked at Microsoft between 1983 and 2002, overseeing the sales of Windows software to computer makers for part of that time. ‘As much as I respect Steve Ballmer, he may be part of that in the end,'” Rigby reports. “As a senior vice president in charge of a crucial part of the company’s business with direct access to co-founder Bill Gates, Kempin is the most senior former Microsoft executive to write a book critical of the company, which is famous for the loyalty of its ex-employees. His criticism echoes that of investor David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital, who called for Ballmer to step down in 2011.”
Rigby reports, “His book, titled Resolve and Fortitude: Microsoft’s secret power broker breaks his silence, is scheduled to be published on Tuesday.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Seems pretty obvious. Stay somnambulant, MSFT board.
Nonsense, Ballmer is exactly the right CEO for Microsoft ( from an Apple perspective ).
Does Apple even still have a perspective on Microsoft?
MS is so far in Apple’s rearview, it almost seems mean spirited to kick them when they are down. Still fun though.
Mock MS all you want, the next version of Windows will be great and it will reduce Apple to the hype it is! Bill was too soft, Balmer is stronger and more competent and will reclaim the lead!
Balmer is going to take MS down to where it gets broken up after his hind end goes out the door the last time.
+1
Truly amazing really that he has held this position for as long as he has.
Compare this to all the shit flying today about how Tim Cook should go.
Well, whenever Ballmer leaves MS, I’m sure that he’ll be able to land a spot on “Dancing With The Stars.”
I like his strategy, I like it a lot!
(Am I first?)
For as long as it takes.
He’s the right man for the job.
Shit in, shit out. They’re a match made in heaven.
He left in 2002. That’s over 10 years ago. How does he know what is really going on in Microsoft now? His book maybe fine for Microsoft history but his information is too old for what is really going on now for my tastes. Ballmer maybe continuing to cull people who disagree with him. It happens all the time in business. That’s not surprising to me.
How long ago he left does not matter. Ballmer is an egotistical imbecile who is incapable of change. He is much like the Terminator, in that he will not stop; he will never stop.
Spot on Tarmac. That is just part of business unfortunately. Unfortunately that’s also part of life. A friend of mine was pretty high up at Apple and upon leaving three years ago he told me the same thing. He had worked there for more than 12 years. So Balmer is no different than some top executives who want to hold on to their positions. Knuckleheads everywhere. But unlike most on this site, I couldn’t care less whether Balmer stays or goes. I don’t invest in MSFT nor do I use their products. It’s simply something for fanboys to gush over. Seems a bit silly with Apple having their earnings tomorrow. But fanboys will be fanboys.
Ballmer’s right nut has shunted his Apple loving left nut out of the Redmond campus, and his ball-sack altogether.
May Ballmer stay…for as long as it takes..
Keep that Kool-Aid flowing freely at Mister Softy!
Meanwhile Tim Cook is apparently feeling the heat and under pressure due to a potential slowing in the rate of growth!
This man needs our support. I have four words for you. I love Steve Ballmer!
Everyone get up… On your feet! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer! Ballmer!
Balmmy has done a fine job! Look he has managed to keep MSFT shares at the same price for more than a decade. Talk about stability. It like a Utility company.
This is exactly what Apple’s Dan Riccio is doing now. Since he become SVP of Hardware Engineering, he made numerous re-org. As a results, a lot of Sr. managers either lost their responsibilities or forced out.
You ask “why?” does Ballmer remain at the helm? Think through corporate history: When a company flounders, the board calls in a change-agent CEO, someone with a history of culling the unprofitable divisions, the shrinking divisions and refocusing what’s left on their core competencies. Apply that lesson to Microsoft. What would be left? The Mac unit. Would a Microsoft board start that process?
What is this “Microsoft” I keep hearing about?
Ballmer took inspiration from Windows – update, update and then update some more!
Just think this buffoon (Balmer) has like 12 billion dollars. Frack