Bill Gates may be replaced as chairman of Microsoft, as Satya Nadella, the company's enterprise and cloud chief, is one of the stronger candidates to be the firm's next chief executive. Re/code had earlier reported that Nadella was in the lead to run the firm. Lead independent director John Thompson could replace Gates, the company's co-founder, as chairman, the report said. Gates may still play an active role at the company depending on the wishes of the CEO and the board, the report added.