Friday, November 5, 2010

Is Ballmer Bailing?

"Even though this is a personal financial matter, I want to be clear about this to avoid any confusion," wrote Microsoft CEO Ballmer on the Microsoft website, to quell fears that his sale of $1.3BN worth of shares in the company was maybe a sign of an imminent departure from the hot seat that he has occupied for the past ten years.

He added:

"I am excited about our new products and the potential for our technology to change people's lives, and I remain fully committed to Microsoft and its success."

For those with a good memory, they may recognize that this same exact wording is what Ballmer's advisers have also used in the past. Such as in May 2003, when he also sold some of his holdings of Microsoft stock "to gain some diversification of his financial assets."