Microsoft is reportedly putting speculation to rest early on a lease, before 2014 would be announced every time a new CEO.

According to the Guardian, Thompson was also narrowed the list of potential successors and is expected to be completed early in 2014, as they have done in-depth research, he said.
Frontrunners in the race among others, former CEO of Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop, Ford CEO Alan Mulally, head Satya Nadella Microsoft's cloud computing provides.
Report Ballmer led the company since January 2000 and he will be retiring in the next 12 months was announced in August, he said.