Microsoft is not in a hurry to announce its new CEO… yet

It seems all those waiting to find out who the lucky champion for Microsoft’s top job will be just have to wait a little longer. According to a blog post by John W. Thompson, a member of the company’s board of directors leading the hunt, the announcement will only come next year.

“We identified over 100 possible candidates, talked with several dozen, and then focused our energy intensely on a group of about 20 individuals, all extremely impressive in their own right. As you would expect, as this group has narrowed, we’ve done deeper research and investigation, including with the full Board. We’re moving ahead well, and I expect we’ll complete our work in the early part of 2014,” wrote Thompson on the company’s blog.

The list of candidates for the job has been quite impressive, featuring the likes of Nokia’s Elop, Ford’s Alan Mulally and Microsoft’s own Satya Nadella, who seems to be favoured front runner.

Thompson also notes that the board is “pleased” with the progress it has made so far on the quest for a new leader.

Previously, Ford has come out to say that Mulally isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but perhaps that is for the best because Nadella seems to be someone who knows how to make money and he could make the company a boatload more.

“The Board has taken the thoughtful approach that our shareholders, customers, partners and employees expect and deserve. After defining our criteria, we initially cast a wide net across a number of different industries and skill sets,” says Thompson.

According to an AllThingsD report based on conversations with people close to the matter, it’s a decision that lies between an experienced leader or technical experience.

Whoever gets the job will be Microsoft’s third ever CEO and the board is “determined and confident that the company’s third CEO will lead Microsoft to renewed and continued success”.