Would Steve Ballmer Leave Microsoft After Win 8?

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Ballmer's been around for every version of Windows so far.

Bill Gates will forever be the number one name attached to the company, but the powerful locomotive that steams ahead at Microsoft is clearly Steve Ballmer.

So surprising it is, then, to read a rumor that says that Ballmer will step down from his position at Microsoft following the release of Windows 8. Website Windows8update.com said it received a tip from a source that says that the current Microsoft CEO will resign sometime after the launch of Windows 8.

The source said that, regardless of whether or not Windows 8 is a success in the marketplace, the new OS release will be Ballmer's final accomplishment.

Again, to be absolutely clear, this is just a rumor from an unnamed tipster, so at this point it serves as little more than just an interesting conversation point.

So who would be next in line to lead Microsoft if Ballmer were to ride off into the sunset? It could very well be Windows President Steven Sinofsky, who lead the team on Windows 7 and is overseeing development on Windows 8.

Ballmer has been the CEO of Microsoft since January 2000. His time at the company stretches back to 1980 when he was the first Business Manager hired by Bill Gates. After 32 years at the company, could Steve Ballmer be thinking about retirement?

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
56 Comments Comment from the forums
  • phatboe
    Ballmer needs to go, MS needs a fresh face with a new attitude and fresh thoughts.
    Reply
  • proton9
    ^+1
    Reply
  • nebun
    there are way to many old people in these big businesses, they need to go, the younger generation need the jobs....
    Reply
  • sykozis
    Ballmer stepping down would be the best thing for MS. Unlike Apple, Microsoft can't survive by reviving dead markets...or by entering markets late. They also can't survive by releasing products and almost immediately dropping all support (Kin anyone?) because initial sales were poor due to a poorer software design. Microsoft needs to start innovating...and quickly, but that won't happen with Ballmer running the show.
    Reply
  • salgado18
    Website Windows8update.com said it received a tip from a source that says that the current Microsoft CEO will resign sometime after the launch of Windows 8.
    But the son of my nephew's neighbor's dog heard from someone involved in the gardening of a friend of Bill Gates' cousin that maybe he might be thinking about something more or less around the slightly oposite idea of the one he had earlier. Which could mean perhaps.

    One up for rumours...
    Reply
  • fir_ser
    salgado18But the son of my nephew's neighbor's dog heard from someone involved in the gardening of a friend of Bill Gates' cousin that maybe he might be thinking about something more or less around the slightly oposite idea of the one he had earlier. Which could mean perhaps.One up for rumours...LOL.
    Reply
  • fir_ser
    The replacement of Steve Ballmer should be a youthful person with new ideas to push Microsoft forward.
    Reply
  • ares1214
    He's done pretty good so far, but I would like to see some new good ideas, not to mention that the whole tile idea for mobile and W8 looks rather...lame.
    Reply
  • malphas
    Steven Sinofsky is pretty good, Windows, Windows Live and IE have all become half-decent products since he took the reigns.
    Reply
  • Terrance
    Ballmer should go as CEO. MS needs to stop its half-hearted attempts at new products and come to Jesus about the company's mission. It can either do a few things very well or a lot of things poorly. I'm a long-time shareholder, and even I don't have a clear idea of what MS intends to do to compete.
    Reply