Former Microsoft exec says CEO Ballmer culls internal rivals to retain power

(Reuters) – Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) Chief Executive Steve Ballmer is not the right leader for the world’s largest software company but holds his grip on it by systematically forcing out any rising manager who challenges his authority, claims a former senior executive who has written a book about his time at the company.

“For Microsoft to really get back in the game seriously, you need a big change in management,” said Joachim Kempin, who worked at Microsoft between 1983 and 2002, overseeing the sales of Windows software to computer makers for part of that time. “As much as I respect Steve Ballmer, he may be part of that in the end.”

As a senior vice president in charge of a crucial part of the company’s business with direct access to co-founder Bill Gates, Kempin is the most senior former Microsoft executive to write a book critical of the company, which is famous for the loyalty of its ex-employees.

His criticism echoes that of investor David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital, who called for Ballmer to step down in 2011.

Kempin left Microsoft under a cloud in 2002 as some of the aggressive contracts he crafted with PC makers were seen as fodder for the U.S. government’s antitrust prosecution of the company, which started in 1998 and was largely resolved by 2002.

His book, titled ‘Resolve and Fortitude: Microsoft’s “secret power broker” breaks his silence’, is scheduled to be published on Tuesday. He talked with Reuters by phone on Monday.

DEFEND THE THRONE

Kempin charges Ballmer with purposefully ousting any executives with potential to wrest him from the CEO seat, which he has occupied since 2000.

He said he saw the process first with Richard Belluzzo, a former Hewlett-Packard (HPQ.N) executive credited with launching the Xbox game console who rose to chief operating officer at Microsoft but left after only 14 months in the post, in the same year Kempin left.

“He (Belluzzo) had no room to breathe on the top. When you work that directly with Ballmer and Ballmer believes ‘maybe this guy could someday take over from me’, my God, you will have less air to breathe, that’s what it comes down to.”

Microsoft representatives declined comment. Attempts to reach Belluzzo were not successful.

Several leading executives, touted by outsiders at one time or another as potential successors to Ballmer, have left the company in the last few years, most recently Windows unit chief Steven Sinofsky, who departed in November.

Before Sinofsky, Windows and online head Kevin Johnson went to run Juniper Networks Inc (JNPR.N), Office chief Stephen Elop went to lead phone maker Nokia Oyj (NOK1V.HE), while Ray Ozzie, the software guru Gates designated as Microsoft’s big-picture thinker, left to start his own project.

“Ozzie is a great software guy, he knew what he was doing. But when you see Steve (Ballmer) and him on stage where he (Ozzie) opposed Steve, it was Steve’s way or the highway,” said Kempin.

Kempin said he spoke to Ballmer around two years ago and expressed his concerns about his management style and direction of the company, but has seen no changes since. He said he sent Ballmer and Gates copies of his new book but has yet to get a reply.

“Steve is a very good business guy, but make him a chief operating officer, not a CEO, and your business is going to go gangbusters,” said Kempin. “I respect that guy (Ballmer), but there are some limitations in what he can and can’t do and maybe he hasn’t realized them himself.”

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
In his book, Kempin writes about how Microsoft foresaw the major moves in technology in the last decade, but bungled its entry into tablets, phones and social media, ceding leadership in the technology world to Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and others.

“They missed all the opportunities they were talking about when I was still in the company. Tablets, phones…we had a tablet going, we had tablet software when Windows XP came out, it was never followed up properly,” said Kempin.

He also claims the decline of PCs is partly due to Microsoft’s mismanagement of hardware makers, an area that Kempin oversaw at Microsoft.

“Just think about the insult of Microsoft coming out with a tablet themselves, trying to mimic Apple, and now they are going to come out with a notebook on top of it,” said Kempin, referring to Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet and soon-to-be-released Surface running Windows Pro.

Several PC makers went public with their unease about Microsoft’s decision to make its own computers last year.

Enter the Web of Retail Trading in Physical Bullion

Are you looking for an easy way to trade in gold and silver? BullionIndia.in could be the right platform. You can buy small quantities of the precious metals in physical format using this online trading platform for bullion.

Promoted by NCDEX Spot Exchange, RiddiSiddhi Bullions and Finkurve Financial Services, the online platform allows users to buy as less as 0.1 gram of gold and 1 gram of silver at prevailing wholesale rates.

You can register on the website for free, add funds to your account using online payment systems (electronic fund transfer, net banking and debit card) or cheques or demand drafts and start trading in the bullions. You do have to submit some documents to fulfil the Know Your Customer procedure.

The platform provides insurance and storage service without any brokerage or other charges. You can get the metals purchased by you delivered at your door-steps for a fee.

If your sole purpose is investment or even trading, you can also sell your holding using the platform without getting it delivered to you.

Though the platform does not charge any brokerage, it will retain 1% of profit booked by a user towards payment of value-added tax.

Source Info:  http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/online-trading-platform-to-trade-in-gold-and-silver/1/190112.html

India in a bind over New WTO Chief

NEW DELHI: The Indian government is in a bind over who it should support for the top job at the World Trade Organizationthat is to be decided by the end of May, reflecting the familiar dilemma over crucial assignments at international bodies.

There are nine candidates in the fray, and officials in the commerce ministry seemed unclear over whom to back given that the government will have a tough time choosing between a BRICs representative and a candidate from Asean, apart from a Muslim woman from Africa, who is also in the race for the post of WTO director general’s post that falls vacant on August 31 when Pascal Lamy is due to step down.

Brazil has nominated its ambassador to WTO Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo as its candidate for the job, while Indonesia’s former trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu is also among the nine who have filed their nominations.

Kenyan diplomat Amina C Mohamed is seen to be ahead in the race although former Ghana minister Alan Kyerematen is the other candidate from Africa. “We are internally discussing the candidates, although it is going to be a tough call. Over the next few weeks we will be in a better position to decide,” an official said.

As far as the other candidates are concerned, in the Indian government’s scheme of things, former New Zealand trade and climate change minister Tim Groser, Mexico’s Herminio Blanco, South Korea’s Taeho Bark and Costa Rica’s Anabel Gonzalez rank lower.

Officials and trade experts said New Zealand has already sent a DG to WTO in Mike Moore. Similarly, the Koreans are seen to be heading several international organizations, including theWorld Bank. With Angel Gurria heading Paris-based OECD, often dubbed as the rich countries’ think tank, Blanco too is seen to have a slim chance.

What weakens the case for Pangestu and Jordan’s Ahmad Thougan Hindawi is the fact that another Asian, Thailand’s Supachai Panitchpakdi, was Lamy’s predecessor at the WTO. While nominations for appointing Lamy’s successor closed on December 31, a replacement has to be found by May 31. As is the norm, the decision will be taken by consensus, with the US and theEuropean Union expected to play a key role.

This time, the appointment is seen to be even more crucial given that there is going to be renewed thrust from the US to conclude the talks, especially with a narrower agenda.

There are nine candidates in the fray,.. the govt will have a tough time choosing between a BRICs representative and a candidate from Asean, apart from a Muslim woman from Africa.

Source Info: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-in-a-bind-over-new-WTO-chief/articleshow/18011522.cms

Deep Dive: Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 2014 Audi A8

All three of the German luxury giants have new flagships coming in the next few years. We’ve already told you about the next-generation BMW 7 Series due in 2015 – and its M770ix variant – but now we have all the details on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and 2014 Audi A8. Georg Kacher details them below. –Ed

 

Countless S-Classes

Although the new S-Class is less than twelve months away, the outgoing model still tops its segment in China and Germany. The next big Benz will likely be offered in no fewer than seven different variations: a standard-wheelbase sedan (codenamed W222, 200.79 inches long); a long-wheelbase sedan (V222, 7.08-inch stretch); an extra-long-wheelbase sedan (X222, 13.78-inch stretch); a six-door Pullmann (25.59-inch stretch); a full-size CL-class replacement (C217, rumored to return to SLC moniker); a full-size CL convertible (A217); and a full-size four-door coupe (V217). Only Mercedes has the guts to offer a Pullmann luxury liner and a stately drop-top powered by an optional 680-hp, 811-lb-ft V-12 engine. Has it already forgotten Maybach’s failure?

 

From Pauper to Prince

The new modular rear-wheel drive architecture – dubbed Mercedes Rear Architecture – will stretch from a relatively humble four-cylinder mild hybrid S-Class to a quartet of ultra-luxurious Bentley and Rolls-Royce rivals. Lighter and more rigid than the current platform, MRA introduces a reengineered four-link front suspension, which separates the steering and braking forces from the spring and damper action. Unlike Audi and BMW, Mercedes-Benz keeps a relatively low carbon fiber profile, concentrating on steel, aluminum, and magnesium instead. The one notable exception is the new S63 AMG that sports a roof, trunk, hood, and doors made of carbon fiber.

 

Inside, the sixth-generation S-Class gets a completely redesigned dashboard with two large-format monitors, programmable instruments, extended voice and gesture control, head-up display, and knee and belt-integrated airbags. The long list of innovative driver aids includes dynamic LED headlights, the so-called Magic Carpet Ride chassis featuring a camera-based damper adjustment system, an ever-more-intelligent brake assist with cross traffic recognition, and a new active cruise control that can even execute lane changes and passing maneuvers.

 

From 2016 onwards (about a year after the car’s debut), Mercedes will start introducing the new in-line six-cylinder engines codenamed M256 (gas) and OM656 (diesel). The European S-Class launches with the familiar 2.1-, 3.0-, and 3.5-liter V-6 units, but it will switch to the more efficient straight sixes at the model-year changeover for 2017. The initial engine line-up should span from the 224-hp diesel installed in the S250 CDI to the mighty V-12 fitted to the S600 and the S65 AMG. The final metamorphosis of the outgoing V-6 is a 3.0-liter good for 333 hp. On the hybrid front, customers will be able to choose from three options: mild with a 41-hp electric motor, or one of two plug-in models with motors rated at either 68 hp or 109 hp. Even the least economical hybrid drivetrain returns a super-frugal 75mpg – but only because current European regulations ignore the energy used to charge the batteries.

 

2014 Audi A8: An Extensive Facelift

The facelifted 2014 Audi A8 looks like a new car. Major changes include completely restyled front and rear ends with less aggressive lights, a prettier grille, and more elegant bumpers. While the current A8 (pictured here) is doing really well in China, Ingolstadt’s halo car has been overtaken in Germany by underdogs like the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Porsche Panamera. Enginewise, the high-end Audi will receive a more powerful 3.0-liter V-6 TFSI (310 hp instead of 290 hp), an improved 3.0-liter V-6 TDI (258 hp instead of 250 hp), and a brawnier 4.2-liter V-8 TDI (360 hp instead of 350 hp). Of those revised engines, only the V-6 options are expected to make it to U.S. cars. We fully expect the gasoline V-8 and W-12 engines to remain on offer with no major changes expected. Other upgrades include an MMI update, enhanced smartphone and infotainment connectivity, and additional driver assistance systems.

 

Source:rumors.automobilemag.com/deep-dive-mercedes-benz-s-class-and-2014-audi-a8-158463.html#axzz2FUSbwXEi

Young Borders businessman wins double award

A YOUNG businessman from the Borders has won two awards in one week.

Sam Zawadzki, from Romanno Bridge, co-founder of new start-up company AdvancetoGO, battled through tough competition to bring home the national title of ‘The Pitch Champion 2012’, while the same week being awarded the Shell LiveWIRE’s ScottishYoung Entrepreneur of the Year 2012.

The 22-year-old drew attention from leading members of the business world including Richard Branson who described his property website as fun, creative and a challenge to the property industry.

AdvancetoGO.com is a website that helps landlords find good tenants quickly by advertising their property to let.

Walking away with a £50,000 prize package, Sam said: “Winning this award is incredible, it will make a real impact and help AdvancetoGO develop!”

Source: http://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/roundup/articles/2012/12/04/440796-young-borders-businessman-wins-double-award/

Ankesh Shahra has been felicitated with the Global Young Entrepreneur Award

Ankesh Shahra has been felicitated with the Global Young Entrepreneur Award during the Annual Globoil Conference held in Mumbai on Monday, October 8. Member of Parliament and lawyer Ram Jethmalani handed over the award and citation to Shahra. Currently based in Singapore, Ankesh is managing the international businesses for Ruchi Soya. It includes establishing a cross-commodity global trading platform headquartered in Singapore, as well as implementing Ruchi Soya’s backward integration strategy into agricultural plantations in Asia and Africa. Established in 1997 in India, Globoil – the Premier International Conference & Exhibition on Vegetable Oil, Feed & Feed Ingredients, and Oilseeds & Oleo Chemicals is an established annual feature and holds much value to the players in the vegetable oil trade and industry. Shahra said, “I am very grateful to the committee for their kind consideration, and realise the responsibilities that this award carries and look forward to fulfilling each and every one of them. Food security is indeed a prevalent global concern, and Ruchi is taking strategic steps towards ensuring competitive supply to India in the coming several years.” Ankesh has a background in Finance, Economics and International Trade, and represents the third generation of the Shahra family that started the business conglomerate Ruchi Group. The Group has business interests across the sectors ranging from Edible oil, Soya foods, Steel, Dairy, Information technology, Realty and others.