Whoever succeeds Steve Ballmer as Microsoft's chief executive will have to make up for a lot of lost time. The reason? Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500), once the dominant technology company, is fighting obsolescence. It failed to capitalize on the biggest technology trends of the past decade -- mobile devices and Internet search -- and must now play catch-up to rivals likeGoogle (GOOG, Fortune 500) and Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500).

    Microsoft disclosed its search for a new leader on Friday. Ballmer, the voluble salesman who has led the company since 2000, said he planned to resign within the next 12 months. There are a number of potential successors, but no obvious front-runner has emerged. Whoever is chosen must be comfortable in the spotlight along with the intense pressure that comes with trying to revive such a high-profile company.

    Candidates must be well versed in technology and have experience at a large public company. Familiarity with Microsoft's business, which still depends heavily on selling Windows desktop software, is a plus. Microsoft's board will likely consider a number of internal candidates. But there are also executives from an array of other companies like Facebook (FB), Nokia (NOK) andJuniper Networks (JNPR) who could step into the role.

    Whether the board gives the job to an insider or outsider could be telling. Boards seeking modest reorganizations and smooth transitions typically choose an internal candidate. Picking an outsider usually signals a more radical approach. What follows are some of the potential candidates for Microsoft's chief executive job, their selling points and their liabilities.

    不论最终由谁接任史蒂夫•鲍尔默担任微软（Microsoft）首席执行官，都必须补回曾经失去的时间。因为曾经占据科技界统治地位的微软如今正面临衰退的困境。微软未能抓住过去十年最大的科技趋势——移动设备与互联网搜索——现在，它只能在谷歌（Google，《财富》500强）和苹果（Apple，《财富》500强）等竞争对手身后苦苦追赶。

    周五，微软宣布正在寻找新的领导者。鲍尔默出身于一名健谈的销售员，自2000年开始执掌公司，近日宣布将在一年内退休。继任者的人选有很多，但没有哪位人选具备明显的优势。不论谁被选中，都将成为公众关注的焦点。如何带领一家备受瞩目的公司实现复兴？这将给继任者带来巨大的压力，

    候选人必须精通科技，有过在大型上市公司工作的经历。此外，候选人还必须熟悉微软的业务。目前微软的业务主要还是依赖Windows台式机软件的销售。董事会或许会考虑从微软内部挑选新领导人。不过，来自Facebook、诺基亚（Nokia）和瞻博网络（Juniper Networks）等其他几家公司的几位高管也有可能成功上位，

    董事会到底从内部选择还是外部选择，将大有玄机。如果董事会希望进行适度的重组和平稳过渡，可能会选择内部人选。而聘用外部人员通常意味着更激进的方式。以下是微软首席执行官职位的潜在候选人，以及他们各自的优势和劣势。

    Sheryl Sandberg

    Current role: COO, Facebook

    Facebook's meteoric success can be largely traced back to Sandberg. She brought the management experience that Mark Zuckerberg, the company's twentysomething founder, lacked. They work as a team. But at some point, she may want to lead a company on her own. Sandberg would bring considerable buzz to Microsoft. The question is whether her skills in the Internet realm are applicable to selling software, servers and video game consoles.

    谢丽尔•桑德伯格

    当前职务：COO，Facebook

    Facebook如此迅猛的成功很大程度上要归功于桑德伯格。她带来了公司二十多岁的创始人马克•扎克伯格所欠缺的管理经验。他们配合默契。但在某些情况下，她或许更希望能自己领导一家公司。桑德伯格将给微软带来更多商机。问题是她在互联网领域的能力，她是否适合销售软件、服务器和视频游戏机等。

    Kevin Johnson

    Current role: CEO, Juniper Networks

    Johnson is among a legion of former Microsoft executives who have gone to lead other companies. He joined Juniper Networks, the computer networking gear maker, five years ago. Last month, he disclosed plans to resign as soon as a replacement is found. Johnson's keen familiarity with Microsoft -- he once presided over its Windows and online services division -- is a definite plus. Whether he can breathe innovation into the company, something it sorely lacks, is an open question.

    凯文•约翰逊

    当前职务：CEO，瞻博网络

    微软许多前高管在离开公司后都成了其他公司的领导人，约翰逊便是其中之一。五年前，约翰逊加入计算机网络设备制造商瞻博网络。上个月，他宣布将在找到继任者之后辞职。约翰逊非常熟悉微软——他曾经负责Windows和在线服务部门，这肯定要给他加分。但他能否给微软带来其所欠缺的创新呢？这个问题值得探讨。

    Tony Bates

    Current role: EVP, Business Development and Evangelism group, Microsoft

    Bates, a native of England, has a proven track record as both a technologist and business leader controlling a multi-billion dollar budget. Currently, he leads Microsoft's business development, strategy and evangelism -- which involves the important job of keeping the company's many partners happy. Prior, he served as chief executive of Skype, the online calling service, and as a top executive at Cisco Systems (CSCO, Fortune 500). His experience with both consumer and enterprise products would be an attractive combination.

    托尼•贝茨

    当前职务：高级副总裁，业务开发与宣传推广部，微软

    英国人贝茨不论作为技术专家，还是负责数十亿美元预算的商业领袖，均有不俗表现。最近，他负责微软的业务开发、战略与宣传推广部门——其中一项很重要的工作就是让公司众多的合作伙伴满意。之前，他曾担任在线通话服务商Skype的首席执行官，还在思科系统公司（Cisco Systems, 《财富》500强）担任过高管。贝茨在消费者与企业产品领域的经验是非常有吸引力的一个组合。

    Ed Breen

    Current role: Former CEO, Tyco

    Tyco, a maker of security systems and fire protection equipment, isn't exactly a household name in the technology world. But Breen, who resigned from Tyco (TYC) earlier this year after more than a decade as chief executive, would bring loads of experience in one important area: Corporate reorganization. He revamped Tyco, a one-time conglomerate, by installing a new board, selling off business units, shifting what remained into separate companies.

    埃德•布林

    当前职务：前任CEO，泰科（Tyco）

    安全系统与防火设备制造商泰科在科技界算不上是家喻户晓的名字。但布林能给微软带来在一个重要领域的丰富经验：公司重组。今年早些时候，在泰科担任首席执行官已经超过十年的布林从公司辞职。泰科曾经是一个大型联合企业。布林对泰科进行了大刀阔斧的改革，成立了新的董事会，出售了一些业务部门，还将剩余的部门变成独立的公司。

    Kevin Turner

    Current role: COO, Microsoft

    Microsoft's board will almost certainly give serious consideration to Turner, the de facto No. 2, as Ballmer's successor. Much of the nuts and bolts of the company -- sales and support, for example -- are under his purview. Of anyone, Turner may know Microsoft's business and operations the best. But he may also be seen as too associated with the current problems at the company and lacking the vision and technical chops of some other potential candidates.

    凯文•特纳

    当前职务：COO，微软

    或许，微软董事会会认真考虑公司名义上的二号人物特纳来作为鲍尔默的继任者。公司的许多具体细节，如销售与支持等，均由特纳负责。所有人选中，或许只有特纳对微软的业务与运营最为了解。但另一方面，他也可能被认为与公司目前存在的问题有莫大的干系，而且他缺乏其他潜在候选人的眼光和技术能力。

    Stephen Elop

    Current role: CEO, Nokia

    Elop, who has held executive positions as Microsoft, Juniper Networks and Adobe (ADBE), is an obvious candidate to succeed Ballmer based on his resume. He knows the technology industry and Microsoft in particular, having led the all-important group that makes Office. Most recently, he's been trying to turn around Nokia, the troubled mobile phone maker. However, his strategy of adopting the Windows operating system for Nokia's smartphones hasn't exactly been a hit with customers, and it will likely count against him.

    史蒂芬•埃洛普

    当前职务：CEO，诺基亚

    埃洛普曾在微软、瞻博网络和Adobe公司担任过高管职位。按照他的履历，他应该是鲍尔默继任者的热门人选。他了解科技行业，尤其是微软，曾领导过与Office产品开发有关的所有团队。最近，他一直在努力扭转诺基亚的艰难处境。然而，他在诺基亚智能手机上采用Windows操作系统的策略没能赢得消费者的欢心，这或许会成为他的不利因素。

    Qi Lu

    Current role: EVP, Applications and Services Group, Microsoft

    Personality-wise, Lu, who oversees Microsoft's Office software and online Bing search engine, is a polar opposite of Ballmer. Lu is sedate while Ballmer is volatile. Lu's engineering mentality and focus on innovation may be a welcome change. But the board may be looking for someone with more extensive experience leading a company.

    陆奇

    当前职务：高级副总裁，应用与服务部，微软

    负责微软Office软件和必应（Bing）在线搜索引擎的陆奇极具人格魅力。他与鲍尔默形成鲜明对比。陆奇沉稳安静，而鲍尔默粗放张扬。陆奇在工程设计方面的思路和对创新的关注或许会受到公司欢迎。但董事会或许希望找一位拥有更多公司领导经验的领导者。

    Satya Nadella

    Current role: EVP, Cloud and Enterprise group, Microsoft

    If loyalty counts, Nadella is a front-runner. He joined Microsoft more than 20 years ago, and currently is head of the company's cloud computing, data center and enterprise division. It's a highly profitable but largely invisible area that Microsoft is counting on for future growth. Combine that with the fact that he's well-known inside the company, and he may be a serious contender.

    萨蒂亚•纳德拉

    当前职务：高级副总裁，云与企业工程部，微软

    如果考虑忠诚这个因素，纳德拉绝对遥遥领先。他在20多年前就已经加入了微软，目前是公司云计算、数据中心与企业工程部门的负责人。这个部门具有极高的盈利能力，但基本上都是无形的领域，将是微软未来增长的重点。再加上纳德拉在公司内部知名度很高，所以，他或许会是强有力的竞争者。（财富中文网）

    译者：刘进龙/汪皓