Is Google's Android head Sundar Pichai the top choice for the CEO position at Microsoft?

New Delhi: Amidst reports that Microsoft is preparing to name internal executive Satya Nadella as the software company's next chief executive, a new report has surfaced claiming Sundar Pichai, another person of Indian origin, as the most likely candidate to replace outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer.

Citing sources close to the hiring team, John Furrier, founder of the blog SiliconAngle.com, said in a blog post that negotiations are in full swing with Pichai. "Many industry insiders like Satya Nadella for CEO because of his enterprise and cloud background. However, Sundar Pichai is the leading external candidate and is in discussions with the hiring committee," said the blog post.

Indian-origin Sundar Pichai, an IIT-Kharagpur alumnus, grabbed media attention in India when he was named as the new head of Google's Android division, making him one of the most powerful executives at the Internet giant, last year.

Sundar Pichai is currently the senior Vice President of Android, Chrome and Apps at Google. Pichai's success with the Chrome browser during the past four years has helped Google generate more revenue.

On the other hand, Bloomberg in its recent report said that Microsoft is poised to take the route of least risk and tap rising internal star Satya Nadella for the job. The Bloomberg report further said the the board is also considering replacing Chairman Bill Gates, possibly with lead independent director John Thompson.

It remains unclear whether the 46-year old Indian-born executive, Satya Nadella, will meet some investors' desire for more radical moves at the software maker, after Ballmer announced in August that he planned to retire.

Nadella, a native of Hyderabad, India, was promoted to run Microsoft's fast expanding internet-based computing initiative in July last year as part of current CEO Steve Ballmer's radical re-organisation of the company.

Before that he was in charge of Microsoft's growing server and tools business, following on from high-level roles in Microsoft's Office and Bing search engine units.

"He's a solid choice," offering continuity of strategy and proven execution, said Sid Parakh, an analyst at fund firm McAdams Wright Ragen.

Microsoft's CEO search has taken longer than most expected when Ballmer announced his plan last August to retire within a year.

(With inputs from Agencies)