Microsoft expects to have a successor in place to CEO Steve Ballmer by the end of the year and is in the process of narrowing down a list of candidates, Bloomberg reports.
A number of candidates have so far declined to be considered, including eBay CEO John Donahow, say Bloomberg sources. Other candidates currently being considered are Ford Motors CEO Alan Mulally, former Nokia Oyj CEO Stephen Elop and Microsoft's business development and evangelismchief Tony Bates.
Timing of the hire will depend on negotiations over compensation and the possible departure of the candidate's current company. This follows Ballmer's plans to retire fom the company, first announced earlier in the year. Ballmer is Microsoft's second CEO since 2000.