Microsoft (MSFT) Trims CEO Candidate List; Includes Ford's Mulally, Nokia's Elop

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has whittled down its already short list of potential CEO successors to Steve Ballmer.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the list of external candidates is down to about five people. Included are current Ford Motor (NYSE: F) CEO Alan Mulally and former Nokia (NYSE: NOK) CEO Stephen Elop.

Included on the internal Microsoft candidate list are former Skype CEO and now head of Microsoft business development Tony Bates and Enterprise Could chief Satya Nadella. The company said it is interviewing a wide variety of potentials from various sectors, not just tech.

One spokesperson for Ford commented to Reuters, There is no change from what we announced last November. Alan remains fully focused on continuing to make progress on our One Ford plan. We do not engage in speculation.

One stigma affecting shareholder perception is that Ballmer will be up for election to Microsoft's board upon retirement, which is expected by next August. That means he, along with founder Bill Gates, will still have ultimate influence over the succeeding CEO. Some have called for Ballmer and Gates to completely break ties with the company when a new CEO is appointed.

Shares of Microsoft are up 1.4 percent early Wednesday.

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