Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has used the company's annual shareholder meeting in Bellevue, Washington to highlight the "complex" requirements that need to be addressed as the firm attempts to find a new CEO for only the second time in its history.
Outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer announced he plans to retire within the next 12 months in August, following 13 years in the position. Microsoft's only other CEO in its 38 year history was Gates, who co-founded the company in 1975.
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Gates, who is part of a four-man panel that has been tasked with hiring a successor to Ballmer, said Microsoft is making progress in determining its next CEO.
"We've been doing a lot of meetings with both internal and external candidates and we're pleased with the progress," Gates told shareholders, but added that there was no need to rush to a decision. "We're looking at a number of candidates and I'm not going to give a timeline today," he said.
Gates did however outline some of the attributes he's looking for in the candidates.
"It's a complex role to fill - a lot of different skills, experience and capabilities that we need," he said.
"It's a complex global business the new CEO will have to lead. The person has to have a lot of comfort in leading a highly technical organization and have an ability to work with our top technical talent to seize the opportunities."
Mobile is seen as a key area for Microsoft to expand into as according to Ballmer's own admission the company has "almost no share" of the market.
Gates also used the shareholder meeting to thank Ballmer for his time as Microsoft CEO and highlight the importance of choosing the "right person" to succeed him.
"I want to say thanks for the leadership over the last 13 years. It's a real privilege to lead the incredibly talented group of employees we have," said Gates, before reportedly choking up when speaking about the future of Microsoft.
"We've got a commitment to make sure the next CEO is the right person for right time for the company we both love," he said.
"We share a commitment that Microsoft will succeed as a company that makes the world a better place," Gates added.
Microsoft has been tight-lipped about candidates in the running for the position of its next CEO, but Nokia CEO Stephen Elop and Ford CEO Alan Mulally are thought to be the front runners to replace Ballmer.
