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Is Ford’s Alan Mulally Now in the Lead to Be New CEO of Microsoft?

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four-walling

Kerry, San Diego
http://allthingsd.com/20130926/is-fords-alan-mulally-now-in-the-lead-to-be-new-ceo-of-microsoft/?mod=atd_homepage_carousel

According to sources close to the situation, Ford CEO Alan Mulally has vaulted to the forefront of the candidates to become the new CEO of Microsoft.

Earlier this month, the well-known leader of the car maker categorically denied he was leaving the Detroit company in an email to me, writing: “I continue to be focused on serving Ford … and I have my red Ford vest on right now!!”

The typically ebullient Mulally was referring to the iconic sweater he often appears in with a Ford logo on it.

People with knowledge of the situation said that while the 68-year-old Mulally — who has been CEO of Ford for seven years and is a well-known business star — was not seeking the job at first, he has become more amenable to the idea in recent weeks.

Among the factors: Mulally was a former CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the Seattle area and has long wanted to return there, where he continues to keep a home. In addition, he was a close adviser to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in his recent effort to create a new management structure for the company.

In another interesting move, earlier this month, Reuters reported that the Ford board had given Mulally the ability to step down earlier from his position than is called for in his contract. Some speculated at the time that it could point to a position in the Obama administration.

Or perhaps in a big tech company in desperate need of a jolt.

Heidrick & Struggles has been conducting its search for a top exec to take over for Ballmer, who announced in August that he was stepping down within the year from his longtime post.

Soon after, Microsoft bought Nokia for $7.2 billion and it was thought that its CEO, Stephen Elop, was the top contender — I even called him the one to beat — given the huge deal and his former experience at the company.

Sources said that while Elop has remained a top candidate, there has been a shift in recent weeks toward Mulally, who has much turnaround experience.

The other top exec in contention, said sources, is Microsoft exec Tony Bates, who had previously been CEO of Skype.

Sources said Mulally has not entered formal contract negotiations with Microsoft, but that discussions with him about the job have been serious.

One person critical to the decision will be Microsoft Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates, who stepped away from his role as CEO many years ago. Five years ago, he left full-time work there to focus on his huge charitable organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

But sources said that Gates has been spending more time at Microsoft over the last several weeks. He is also on the special committee to pick the new CEO and is, of course, one of Microsoft’s biggest shareholders.

Also, he is, well, Bill Gates.

Microsoft declined to comment and Mulally — who is one of my favorite CEOs since he returns emails and answers questions on the record — has yet to do so.

But a Ford spokesman said Jay Cooney declined to comment on “speculation” and said that there is “no change from what we announced in November,” that Mulally’s tenure has been planned to run through 2014.
 
I hate to see him retire from Ford but if he takes the helm at MSFT that would be a buy signal. Unless he goes to HP as CoTB? ;)
 

four-walling

Kerry, San Diego
http://www.leftlanenews.com/rumors-over-ford-ceo-mulallys-potential-move-to-microsoft-escalate.html

By Andrew Ganz

Ford CEO Mulallys potential move to Microsoft escalates

Monday, Sep 30th, 2013 @ 9:01 am
As Ford Motor Company continues to ponder life after CEO Alan Mulally, a report out of Detroit suggests that the executive is being considered for the top position at Microsoft.

The software giant announced a little over a month ago that it is searching for a replacement to Steve Ballmer, who announced in August plans to retire.



Mulally, on the other hand, has long been rumored to be pondering a move away from Ford. A clause in the executive's contract states that he can step down early from the automaker he helped save from bankruptcy while its chief domestic rivals went under. Although Ford's woes aren't quite over, the automaker is undoubtedly on a better path today than it was when Mulally took over the top job in 2006.

Rumors about a move to Microsoft first began circulating last week based on a report from AllthingsD.com citing "people with knowledge" "close to the situation" who indicated that Mullally is under serious consideration at the software firm.

A move to the Seattle area to head up Microsoft would put Mullaly back in what's essentially his home turf; for more than three decades, he called the area home as he worked his way up Boeing's ranks to become the airplane manufacturer's commercial division CEO. And Mulally has a close relationship with Ballmer, who sought the Ford executive's advice during its management restructuring.

At Ford, high-ranking executive Mark Fields is generally considered the heir apparent for the CEO position when Mulally steps down.

For now, Mulally, Ford and Microsoft are all remaining mum on the subject. Mulally has indicated that, at the very least, he will stay on at Ford through the rest of 2013. But what lies beyond December is anyone's guess.

Read more: http://www.leftlanenews.com/rumors-over-ford-ceo-mulallys-potential-move-to-microsoft-escalate.html#ixzz2gOiA6k00
Read more at http://www.leftlanenews.com/rumors-over-ford-ceo-mulallys-potential-move-to-microsoft-escalate.html#JTfCIXLMjLjAIjc2.99
 

four-walling

Kerry, San Diego
I remember reading Mark Fields has a clause in his contract to have the company plane fly him home to Florida every weekend and back to Dearborn during the week.

When Mulally became CEO he asked Mark Fields to stop using the company plane to fly him home every weekend and Mark agreed.

Fields has long been groomed for the top spot. Didn't read the WSJ article, but glad to hear it was positive.
 
four-walling said:
I remember reading Mark Fields has a clause in his contract to have the company plane fly him home to Florida every weekend and back to Dearborn during the week.

When Mulally became CEO he asked Mark Fields to stop using the company plane to fly him home every weekend and Mark agreed.

Fields has long been groomed for the top spot. Didn't read the WSJ article, but glad to hear it was positive.
Didn't the government pressure them get rid of their jets during the financial crisis? I thought they sold them.
 

four-walling

Kerry, San Diego
cloud9 said:
Didn't the government pressure them get rid of their jets during the financial crisis? I thought they sold them.

I remember GM and Chrysler being "spanked" by congress for flying company jets to D.C. asking for their bailout.

Ford did not ask for a bailout-don't know what happened in that case.
 
four-walling said:
I remember GM and Chrysler being "spanked" by congress for flying company jets to D.C. asking for their bailout.

Ford did not ask for a bailout-don't know what happened in that case.

That is the kind of spanking I wouldn't mind, they still walked away with BILLIONS! So in reality, you and I were the whipping boys. If Mulally goes to Microsoft he sure has some work ahead of him.
 

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