Steve Ballmer has told Microsoft executives and said in public that he has no plans to retire until his youngest kid enters college, which means 2017 or so. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-next-ceo-of-microsoft-steven-sinofsky-is-the-heir-apparent-2012-2#ixzz2ctl5L6ck

Back in 2008, Steve Ballmer said in a public speech that he wants to stay on until his youngest kid is in college, which would be 2017 or 2018.
http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-ballmer-has-already-told-execs-his-retirement-date-2018-2012-1
(Jan. 11, 2012, 12:52 PM)

Suddenly changed his mind or his youngest kid made it to college 4 years earlier?

>There was no successor in place for Jim McNerny when he left 3M.
>Many times when a CEO retires, it is announced ahead of time and a search is made for a successor.