Breaking: Microsoft's Steve Ballmer stepping down in 12 months
Friday, August 23, 2013 at 9:26AM 
By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is one of the most polarizing executives in technology today. Since he took over from Bill Gates in 2000, Ballmer has been the exuberant, often bombastic cheerleader for all things Microsoft and while a series of high-profile firings and resignations have resulted in Redmond losing some of its more promising executives in the past three years alone, Ballmer has remained the one constant. This will change a year from now when Steve Ballmer retires from Microsoft.
“There is never a perfect time for this type of transition, but now is the right time,” Ballmer said in the company’s release. In the meantime, Microsoft's board will have to find a suitable CEO to fill the position. Microsoft has seen a tumultous decade where it has lost momentum in key industries where it was once a leader because of the rise of Apple and Google for mobile as well as the sharp decline of PC sales. Steve Ballmer has managed to serve and steward the company throughout some of the more difficult periods for the company.
Hit jump for the full PR from Microsoft.