Microsoft shortens Ballmer's potential successors' list

Microsoft has reportedly struck off few names from the list of potential successors to replace CEO Steve Ballmer.

Potential successors include Ford CEO Alan Mulally, former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, Microsoft Executive VP Tony Bates, and Microsoft cloud and enterprise chief Satya Nadella.

According to Cnet, Microsoft's board has formed a special committee to seek out potential candidates for the post and the company has been narrowing down its list of possible successors from an initial 40 people to 5-6 contenders.

The committee has spoken with Elop, who will rejoin Microsoft when its 7.2 billion dollar acquisition of the Nokia's handset division closes.

The company is also said to have talked to Mulally, who initially expressed disinterest in the position but has shown interest in the recent weeks.

Those not mentioned by the company as potential contenders include Computer Sciences CEO Mike Lawrie, former Windows Chief Steven Sinofsky, and former Juniper Networks CEO Kevin Johnson.

Ballmer, who has led Microsoft for the past 13 years, announced in August that he would retire within 12 months once a replacement is found who will carry out the company's new vision of offering more devices and services, the report added.