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Some of Microsoft's biggest shareholders have expressed concern about the impact that Bill Gates' outsized influence at the company will have on the search for a replacement to chief executive Steve Ballmer.

The company needs to take particular care that Mr Gate's unique role does not deter candidates nor leave questions about who will have the final say over Mr Ballmer's replacement, according to people familiar with the thinking of a number of investors.

Microsoft had no comment about the matter on Tuesday. But the company has attempted in recent weeks to counter rising investor unrest and convince Wall Street that its directors have a firm grip on the company as it pushes ahead with an overhaul and leadership change.

However, Mr Gates position as chairman and his continuing strong influence at the company, despite stepping down from his full-time role in 2008, have left some investors questioning how the process will be handled.

The search is being watched closely by leading shareholders to ensure the next chief executive is "truly new", one of Microsoft's 10 biggest investors said.

"In a case where the founders have had their turn, as it were, and where one was arguably pushed out in disgrace over performance, it is important that the process be robust and the appointee is focused on the future and not the emotional or financial needs of the people who were there in the beginning," this person said.

The search for Mr Ballmer's successor is being led by John Thompson, the company's lead independent director. The four-person search committee also includes Mr Gates, whose support for Mr Ballmer was long seen as key to his continuation as chief executive despite bouts of shareholder unrest in recent years. Mr Gates' stake in Microsoft has fallen to 5.5 per cent, less than half its level of a decade ago, though he remains the company's biggest individual shareholder.

One concern among some shareholders is whether candidates for Mr Ballmer's job will be put off if they feel they do not have any influence over the company's strategy, according to people familiar with their thinking. The board, with Mr Gates as chairman, has backed the outgoing chief's plan to refocus the company around devices and services.

The announcement in August that Mr Ballmer would step down as soon as a replacement is found cleared some of the clouds over Microsoft's share price but the mood on Wall Street quickly turned to renewed anger with news of the planned purchase of Nokia's handset business.

The move antagonised investors who were still smarting over a recent $900m writedown in Microsoft's tablet hardware business.

To counter rising unrest, Microsoft has dispatched Mr Thompson, a former CEO of Symantec who became a director only last year, to talk to some of the company's biggest shareholders. Under new chief financial officer Amy Hood, it has also mounted an effort to convince Wall Street that is more transparent and responsive to shareholders' views.