Steve Ballmer Denies Being Pushed From Microsoft

With Steve Ballmer announcing his retirement from Microsoft for within the next 12 months, and speculation about investors and shareholders wanting to oust him being prevalent, it isn’t surprising that the press is stating that Steve Ballmer was pushed from his position. Steve Ballmer addressed a question about whether new investor ValueAct was behind his decision to leave, he stated that:

“No. My retirement has nothing to do with that, My retirement has everything to do with what I think is the right long-term timing for Microsoft.” 

Despite this denial of the involvement of investor group ValueAct, veteran Microsoft analyst Rick Sherlund seems convinced ValueAct played a role, though it isn’t clear how significant that role was. In an interview with the Seattle Times Rick Sherlund stated:

“It’s not clear how big a role ValueAct played here, but I suspect they were a strong catalyst for change, Threatening to go out and conduct a proxy contest is the equivalent to dragging (Steve) Ballmer as well as the board and Bill (Gates) through the mud for what’s happened to the company over the last 10 years.”

Reports of ValueAct making demands for changes in Microsoft’s leadership and boardroom structure emerged back as far as July, via Reuters. As expected ValueAct declined to comment publicly to any of the speculation as everything is being done behind closed doors.

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