Swedish vendor Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg has reportedly been shortlisted as a candidate to succeed Microsoft’s head Steve Ballmer, who may step down before August 2014.
Vestberg’s name appears alongside the likes of Microsoft cloud-computing chief…
Swedish vendor Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg has reportedly been shortlisted as a candidate to succeed Microsoft’s head Steve Ballmer, who may step down before August 2014.
Vestberg’s name appears alongside the likes of Microsoft cloud-computing chief Satya Nadella and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Bloomberg reports, citing sources with knowledge of the selection process.
A Microsoft spokesman said the company does not comment on rumour or speculation.
Vestberg, who joined Ericsson in 1988 and became CEO in 2010, has been credited with turning the company’s fortunes around.
The search process, which started with over 100 candidates, has reportedly presented some “difficult” moments for Microsoft as the new CEO will be tasked with shoring up the company’s main software business.
Microsoft is set to wrap up its acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business within the next few weeks after getting the green-light from the European Commission late last year.
Its approval came hot on the heels of the thumbs up from US antitrust regulator the Federal Trade Commission, and a successful shareholder vote in November for the €5.4bn (US$7.16bn) proposal.
The deal is now awaiting the nod from other antitrust authorities before the transaction can be wrapped up.
