Elop moves from long shot to shoo-in as next Microsoft CEO

Former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop has moved into a commanding position as the overwhelming favorite to win the chief executive’s chair at Microsoft, according to online bookmakers.

Just over a week ago, U.K.-based Ladbrokes had Elop at 5 to 1 in its listing of potential CEO replacements for outgoing chief Steve Ballmer. As of Sunday, however, the odds had shortened dramatically: Elop, still the favorite, was at 1 to 4.