Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has officially announced that he will withdraw from the direction of Microsoft in the next 12 months.

Arrived at Microsoft in June 1980, Steve Ballmer rose through the ranks to eventually replace Bill Gates as CEO of the company in January 2000. Now aged 57, the man announces that he will resign from his post in the next twelve months, during which the group will choose his successor.

The announcement was made as the company is currently undergoing restructuring. The group wants to simplify the structure of its internal teams built around the two poles: "Devices" and "Services."


The Board, which is a part including the co-founder Bill Gates, has twelve months to find his replacement. John Thompson, director of the council explained that the transformation strategy will be maintained by initiating research.

In an email sent to all employees Ballmer back on the development of the company, which had 30 employees on arrival now nearly has 100,000 today. 7.5 million in revenue in 1980, it is now close to the $78 billion. Steve Ballmer will remain a major shareholder of Microsoft.

NASDAQ has welcomed the announcement, as MSFT is currently trading higher.