(Removes reference to Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Pruzan, who left the firm)

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman told shareholders Friday that the company will likely appoint its next CEO in the next 12 months.

Gorman, 64, said the board has identified three strong candidates to succeed him and that he will become executive chairman once a new CEO is chosen.

Morgan Stanley co-presidents Ted Pick and Andy Saperstein, and head of investment management Dan Simkowitz, are widely seen as contenders for the top job.

(Reporting by Tatiana Bautzer; Editing by Toby Chopra, Editing by Franklin Paul and Nick Zieminski)