The outgoing CEO talks about Microsoft’s struggle to embrace devices and services

Nov 6, 2013 07:42 GMT  ·  By

Everybody knows Steve Ballmer as a true Microsoft man who would do anything for the company he works for. And still, it turns out that Ballmer could have a change of heart, as his retirement is getting closer.

During a conference in Rome, Ballmer explained that Microsoft needed to avoid getting “old and tired,” and that the company had to “start up again” to succeed with its reorganization plan.

“We're finding ourselves having to start up again,” he was quoted as saying by the Telegraph. “Unless you're constantly inventing something new, you're old and tired. Today we're having to remake ourselves.”

As for the way Windows Phone performs in Italy, where it finally managed to overtake iOS, Ballmer wasn’t at all excited. “I don’t know how long it’s going to last,” he said.

Steve Ballmer announced his retirement earlier this year, with his departure to take place when a successor is found. Sources familiar with the matter claim that Ford’s CEO Alan Mulally and former Nokia boss Stephen Elop are the leading candidates to take over from Ballmer.