There's been plenty of speculation lately as to who will step into the top slot at Microsoft. While names have been batted around, and often almost as rapidly struck down over some point or another, the exact identity of who will step in remains almost as big a mystery now as it did when it started. There's the notable exception that several names have been removed from consideration, of course, but there seem to be almost as many other names stepping in to replace the lost. The latest name comes from the halls of Symantec, as former CEO John Thompson is now being rumored to take over.

Thompson, the former CEO of Symantec, is being considered on the strength of his expertise in running a major firm, and likely along with that is the value of the experience in running a firm in at least a comparable industry as well. The most desirable part of Thompson's former experience is his so-called “blocking and tackling” experience at the organizational level, according to reports.

The last report notes that it's been fully seven months now that Microsoft (News - Alert) has been on the hunt for a new CEO, and names from Ford's Alan Mulally to Qualcomm (News - Alert)'s new CEO (as of March 4) Steve Mollenkopf have been advanced, though these were quickly shot down on subsequent reports. Further names have been offered, but these seemed to go nowhere: Microsoft's own Satya Nadella (News - Alert), Skype's Tony Bates, Nokia's Stephen Elop, VMWare's Patrick Gelsinger all were mentioned, but all seemed to fizzle out without much in the way of specifics showing up as to why. Ericsson AB CEO Hans Vestberg (News - Alert) was also recently noted, and reports suggest Ericsson's own senior engineers were “shocked” at the news.

There were even some reports that suggested Bill Gates (News - Alert) might come back to do the job, but these reports have likewise gone nowhere, and some are beginning to speculate that something is very wrong at Microsoft as a result. One executive recruiter suggested that the CEO search had reached what what was described as “the point of absurdity,” saying that a new CEO should have been found by now and said CEO should already be working.

Indeed, all these possible candidates are likely feeling some heat within current operations. How many of these potential CEOs that have been noted in the same breath as Microsoft's open job are even interested? How many boards are looking twice at the CEO, wondering if that CEO is planning to relocate to Redmond? How many CEOs are suddenly under the no-confidence gun because of what's at least perceived as divided loyalties? The Microsoft CEO search may well be making Microsoft a few enemies in the process thanks to the sheer length and breadth of the search, and the accordant impact it's having on the potential hires.

Who is Microsoft's next CEO? Right now, no one knows, and no one's known for some time now. That's a lot of uncertainty, and uncertainty plus a bad economy is no small trouble for Microsoft and those who come in contact with it. Thompson would likely fare well here, but so would any of a dozen other candidates who've been seen as potential hires. Only time will tell just how this all works out, but Microsoft needs to commit, to somebody, and soon.