The future of Microsoft is uncertain - but uncertainty is the key to growth in such a fast-paced industry, Bob Herbold, finance and IT chief of the beleaguered Seattle-based software giant, has told Financial Director in an exclusive interview.
Herbold admits to Financial Director – sister title to Accountancy Age and AccountancyAge.com – that the company is paranoid but not as a result of the US Department of Justice’s Finding of Law that Microsoft has illegally acted as a monopolist.
‘Five years ago, we were dreadfully worried about whether or not we would continue to be successful,’ he concedes. ‘Three years ago, we were dreadfully worried about whether or not we would continue to be successful. And today? Today, we are dreadfully worried about whether or not we will continue to be successful. That’s just the nature of the business.’
Despite the changes at the helm of Microsoft last week – Steve Ballmer took over from Bill Gates as CEO – Herbold has no reason to feel his position is anything other than secure.
He was named by Ballmer as a member of ‘an incredible team that it will be my honor to have a chance to be a part of.’
THE FINANCIAL DIRECTOR INTERVIEW – When I’m cleaning Windows
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