Microsoft is slowly narrowing down its list of candidates for CEO, which now stands at about five people.
According to Reuters, the shortlist includes Ford chief Alan Mulally and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, as well as three internal candidates, like Skype chief Tony Bates.
The list of potential replacements for Steve Ballmer initially stood at 40, according to the news service. But despite getting it down to five, a new Microsoft chief might not be selected for another few months.
In August, Ballmer announced plans to step down, saying he would retire within 12 months and remain in his position until a successor was chosen.
Since then, a number of names have been thrown around, with much of the speculation landing on Elop and Mulally.
Elop served as the head of Microsoft's business division until 2010, when he replaced Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo as Nokia CEO and president. The Finnish firm bet big on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, and while the mobile OS has seen small gains around the globe thanks to the Nokia Lumia lineup, it's hardly a smashing success. When Microsoft announced plans to acquire Nokia's handset business in September, Elop stepped aside as Nokia president and CEO to become executive vice president of devices and services.
Mulally, meanwhile, has served as CEO of automaker Ford since 2006. Prior to landing at Ford, Mulally was a veteran employee of Boeing in Microsoft's home state of Washington, having been there since 1969. When he was passed over for the CEO job at Boeing in 2005, however, he moved to Ford.
Mulally has done quite well at Ford, and announced recently that he would remain at the automaker until at least 2014. At the IFA trade show in Berlin, Mulally was asked if he might step down earlier than that, paving the way for a stint at Microsoft, but the Ford chief was coy about those prospects.
Bates, meanwhile, joined Redmond in 2011 when Microsoft acquired Skype. He now serves as executive vice president of business development and evangelism at Microsoft.
For more, check out the slideshow of possible Ballmer replacements above, as well as PCMag Live in the video below, which discusses Elop vs. Mulally.