So Steve Ballmer is on his way. His publicised plans for a company-wide reorganisation failed to excite shareholders or markets. They will go down in history as his swan song.
Yet his resignation caused a seven percent rise in Microsoft's stock price. A strong indication now is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start.
While there's any number of internal candidates, it's time to look outside Microsoft's corporate walls. There's a desperate need for fresh blood to invigorate and reenergise the company.
The challenge is to find someone like Facebook's Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg or Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer. Appointing the right person would herald a gripping new chapter in the Microsoft story.
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