Microsoft's board is reportedly close to appoint its cloud-computing head, Satya Nadella, as its next chief executive, both Reuters and Bloomberg claim. According to Reuter's sources, co-founder Bill Gates may step aside as chairman and be replaced by lead independent director John Thompson.

Nadella is currently running Microsoft's cloud business. He started his careeer at Sun Microsystems and joined Microsoft in 1992, with roles in the Office and Bing search-engine teams. He became president of the server unit in 2011, where he accelerated the move to Internet-based computing and worked to better connect cloud software with Microsoft?s programs for internal corporate networks.

Microsoft's CEO search has taken longer than most expected when Ballmer said last August he would retire within a year.