Ford's CEO could be next head of Microsoft

Citing sources close to the situation, AllThingsD.com reports Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) CEO Alan Mulally is a leading candidate to become the next CEO of Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT).

Mulally, who has been with Ford for seven years and denied he might leave last month, is a former CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplane, which is based in the Seattle area. Mulally also was a close adviser to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer when Ballmer worked recently to create a new management structure for the company, AllThingsD.com reported. The Ford CEO also is said to still have a home in Washington, where Microsoft is headquartered.

Paving the way, Reuters reported the Ford board last month gave Mulally the ability to vacate his post early.

Read more at AllThingsD.com.