Former Exec: Wrong Person in Charge of Microsoft

Steve Ballmer is not the right person to be leading the world's largest software company, according to a former Microsoft executive.

This is the opinion of Joachim Kempin, who left the company under a cloud back in 2002. He'd been with Microsoft since 1983, and was senior vice president overseeing Windows sales.

Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO

"Is he a great CEO? I don't think so. Microsoft's board is a lame duck board, has been forever. They hire people to help them administer the company, but not to lead the company. That's the problem," Kempin told Reuters, promoting his new book.

"They need somebody maybe 35-40 years old, a younger person who understands the Facebook Inc generation and this mobile community. They don't need this guy on stage with this fierce, aggressive look, announcing the next version of Windows and thinking he can score with that."

He also accuses Ballmer of ousting colleagues who could potentially replace him as CEO. Kempin singles out Richard Belluzzo, the man credited with launching the Xbox. Belluzzo rose to the position of chief operating officer, but left after only 14 months in the position due to Ballmer's management style. "He (Belluzzo) had no room to breathe on the top," revealed Kempin. "When you work that directly with Ballmer and Ballmer believes 'maybe this guy could someday take over from me', my God, you will have less air to breathe, that's what it comes down to."

Perhaps most interesting are Kempin's remarks regarding Microsoft's tardiness when it came to embracing new technology. "They missed all the opportunities they were talking about when I was still in the company. Tablets, phones...we had a tablet going, we had tablet software when Windows XP came out, it was never followed up properly," said Kempin.

What does the future hold for the company? Kempin believes that "For Microsoft to really get back in the game seriously, you need a big change in management. As much as I respect Steve Ballmer, he may be part of that in the end."

What do you think about Microsoft's general approach? Do they seem out of touch to you? Let us know your views in the comments below.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/01/22/former-exec-wrong-person-in-charge-of-microsoft

But it has to be said that they're doing quite alright anyways, aren't they?

it's weird how an article like this goes unnoticed here; had it been about Nintendo or Sony people would have swarmed to attack or diss...

I think the facts speak for themselves.

There is no way a company of MS clout show go from a near monopoly to impending irrelevance is a few short years. Clearly the management only knows how to manage and not how to lead. Windows 8 and Surface are good products but too little too late. They are now fighting for scraps from Apple and Android (Google). Clearly not a position they ought to be in.

However the good news is within Jobs, I feel Apple is in the same boat.

I've been saying that ever since i saw him jumping around and sweating like a pig in a conference.

or this could be another reason:

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=153377&page=1#

duplicate thread. Lock please.

"I LOVE THIS COMPANY YEAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

I don't agree, but then again, I am not bitter. Balmer has been pushing for more updates to the operating systems (Windows), instrumental in the development of the Xbox, and pushing the Surface Tablets and Windows 8.

The biggest ball drop is in Mobile - people don't know or understand why Windows 8 is a good phone. I see adds now with people talking to their android phones - which people have been able to do in Window before even Apple.

Plus, I think they should have pushed the Surface more with their partners, and not make it themselves. But still, I think the directions Microsoft is going is quite innovative.