It's hard to say that a CEO whose company has grown from $23 billion in revenue to $54 billion during his 10 year tenure isn't doing his job, but
The Daily Beast is reporting on a small, vocal (and of course, anonymous) minority within Microsoft that wants Steve Ballmer out on the curb. The main criticism seems to be the share price, which has oddly tracked in inverse with Microsoft's revenue: it's about half of its $48.93 value back in January 2000 when Ballmer took over. With the strong support of his board and an another supposedly positive earnings call coming later today, it's hard to call Steve's position as "shaky" at the company, but with
whispers of infighting, a symbolic battle with Apple over
market capitalization, and a
do-or-die mobile launch coming up, it's clear that he's under a lot of pressure to deliver. Right now any talks of replacement are hearsay and analyst fodder at best, but we'll be watching to see how this rumor develops during this 30th year of Ballmer's career at the company.
posted July 22nd 2010 3:58PM
Some disgruntled employees/investors want to replace a CEO you say?
My, that's news.
@MarkAnderson
Also, market cap drops when growth opportunities stagnate. Revenue and profit are for keeps.
@MarkAnderson
Guess the MS sleeping giant is awake and is walking around saying who the F*** made this mess in my house.
@MarkAnderson I think We need Bill Gates back....
@HighestRanked2
Hahahaha! How very witty! Turd! Imagine that! How novel!
/s
You've finally grown confident enough in your trolling abilities to move on to the front page now?
So.... an anonymous group of people are disgruntled at a CEO. ROFL. I agree with MarkAnderson....Nothing to see here.
@MarkAnderson Someone needs a banana.
@angelusp
Cmon. Didn't you know having enough income to invest makes you an expert?
@MarkAnderson Teh guy is 33rd richest in the world, I don't believe he cares about what a few fools say on the Internets
@Ignoramus Also, Go MSFT!!!
@MarkAnderson Microsoft wouldn't having this problem if they canned their marketing team. Be The Next is so lame, or whatever it is.
@MarkAnderson
Revenues like $16 billion dollars just announced. Oh and $4.5 billion profits.
BOOM!
@MarkAnderson
The increase in revenue is actually not big enough to give him credit for it. More people are using computers since the year 2000....DUH.
He failed many times (Vista, WM, Win CE....etc) over and over again. Replace him.
WHO SAID SIT DOWN!!!!
@TareG
The increase in iPods was because more people were buying mp3 players.
$4.5 billion profit! F**king BOOM, you twit!
@MarkAnderson Paul miller, the guy who his paintings are better than PC kids paintings, in the day that microsoft is going to report its record breaking revenue found out that he have heard somewhere from someone that some trolls want Steve ballmer out, the guy who when takes windows under his own management they released windows 7,the most successful piece of software of all time,and when he took the mobile division under his own management,they canceled the KIN,shit of some guy in the MS that paul thinks are the most 'cool' guys there(R.B) and then they are going to release WP7,that will be a successful software in the hardest conditions, the same steve ballmer who give the OK to project natal, one of the wildest(revolutionary,magical) technologies that going to come to the market, and the same steve ballmer who his company been growing,despite economic downs and without any press love, with media's bashing his company 24/7, and who give the OK to the massive investments in Bing, the project that in the time of its launch topolsky said don't do it, you have your hands in too many things, and ballmer replied you go forward or you die, and now it is successful. yeah i seriously think these worths getting labeled as NEWS!
@MarkAnderson
Pressure? No different from GOOG's stagnating stock price!
@MarkAnderson
Investor and Employees are not the same thing you fool... if you're going to dump millions of dollars into the company, you better like the leadership/management.
It's so sad... MS does all the boring stuff, and like a snake, they twist the OEM's arms to not only win the WIndows business, but also MS Office, and IE....and they still can't win.
Meanwhile, beleaguered Apple makes fun cool products that people line up for for days, and have surpassed MS in market cap... ever since Bill Gates left the scene...
No wonder Ballmer's in tears. He was never in the same league as Jobs.
@Wesscoast
Yeah, I guess record profits DO leave a guy in tears.
@MarkAnderson
As much as I like Balmer...if he actually reads twilight....he HAS TO GO.
@Wesscoast
Sorry, I can't hear you over the rustle of the huge pile of banknotes Microsoft just made.
$4.5 billion, baby!
@liftedngifted1
we dont need bill gates, if he was still in charge, we would still be waiting on windows mobile 6.5.4 right about now
@Wesscoast
Call me when Apple sells 7 products per second for 8 months straight...
@liftedngifted1 "I think We need Bill Gates back"
Who is 'we' exactly? In what way would the Microsoft CEO affect your everyday life?
Dividends dividends dividends
Bshit ;)
Dude just looks like a douche. Honestly.
LOOK AT HIM
@rmbrown09
He looks like... a middle aged man.
You on the other hand type like a douche. Just sayin'.
@rmbrown09 I may use a mac, but I thought Bill was a playboy. Where is Bill.
@rmbrown09 Helping educate kids and saving the world from Malaria.
@rmbrown09 He's out doing his charity and philanthropy business. I hear he still checks in at MS to see what's up.
@rmbrown09 unlike someone, Bill Gates has no interest in being remember as the God of Microsoft, he'd rather be know for building a massive empire and wealth then taking it to do good in the world.
To be honest I like Balmer.. when he is being sincere and not arrogant.. but then theres time I wish he wouldnt open his mouth
@newjaruz
I couldn't have summed him up any better.
@HighestRanked2 Good on him...
@Indefinite Implosion Come on, courier was going to fail, it would cost 2000$ with 5 hours of battery, and then we would have everyday a report in engadget of Courier VS. iPad battery life, Courier VS. iPad HTML5, courier vs ipad .......
@arash
Hey; SHUT UP! No one needs your negativity focused on the Courier.
*Polishes framed photograph of the Courier concept.*
*Kisses the frame.*
*Puts the frame into bulletproof trophy cabinet.*
Well, I can always dream, my love.
*Sigh.*
[Fade to black.]
@newjaruz If Ballmer goes, who would provide me with a little dose of tech amusement?
I like the guy, he's...different :D
Bye bye Steve.
@samiles
In a world where only one Steve can exist. We need a Bob.
@cdf74dc9
This is....Bob. Yeah. Bob....is a consultant! Yeah.
@samiles
Microsoft Bob?
http://toastytech.com/guis/bobboot1.gif
developers! developer!s developers!
@Parker731
That quote is no longer cool enough to earn a high rank. I'm sorry you had to learn that the hard way.
Honestly, I think Microsoft is undervalued at its current stock price. My guess is that since the tech market has slowly shifted to the consumer away from the business, and since Microsoft owns a disproportionately smaller slice of the "mindshare" in the consumer space, investors are undervaluing the company.
@Anthop
It could be. But by the same token, the revenue gains over the past 10 years were already baked into the 10-years-ago stock price. They'll have to have a roadmap of increased growth to justify further increases in stock price.
@Anthop
you're half right. Consumers don't care about Microsoft - that's why investors aren't valuing MSFT higher. They've peaked with enterprise and consumer computers, but have no growth in other areas like mobile and search. They'll continue to print money with Windows and Office, but steady income doesn't grow a stock - growth potential does. That's why Apple is skyrocketing, because despite all their success, they still only have 6-7% market share of PCs and 2% cellphones. Plenty of room, and plenty of momentum.
Polo neck jumper... [ check ]
Worn out jeans and trainers still to come.
SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS, SHAREHOLDERS!!!!!!!!!
Uncle fester lookin motha f'a.
please remove this guy from microsoft. we want someone with a vision.....
mismanaged microsoft on so many levels.