The list is down to five candidates to replace former CEO of Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Steve Ballmer. 1. 1. Alan Mulally, CEO of Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) 2. Stephen Elop, former CEO of Nokia Corporation (ADR) (NYSE:NOK) 3. Tony Bates, who is in-charge of Microsoft’s business development 4. Satya Nadella, who is in-charge of Microsoft’s enterprise and cloud businesses 5. Mike Lawrie, CEO of Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE:CSC) I believe Microsoft is going for a splash and Alan Mulally will be picked as the next CEO of Microsoft. Mulally has won lot praise for steering Ford in the right direction the collapse of the auto industry during the financial crisis of 2008.