Microsoft working to find new CEO

SEATTLE -- A report by Bloomberg said Microsoft is planning to have a new CEO in place by the end of the year.

The report said the tech company has started to go through a list of candidates, conducting preliminary interviews and narrowing the choices.

Current CEO Steve Ballmer, who has held the post since 2000, announced in August that he plans to retire within a year.

According to Bloomberg, some of the people who have already spoken with Microsoft include Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally; former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop; Pivotal CEO and former Microsoft executive Paul Maritz; and Microsoft business development and evangelism chief Tony Bates.

When exactly Microsoft will announce the name of its new CEO depends on factors like compensation and when the candidate can depart from their current company, reported Bloomberg.

In Microsoft's 38 year history, it has only had two CEOs, co-founder Bill Gates and Ballmer.