Yahoo Considering Computer Industry Pro Carol Bartz as CEO

Veteran computer industry executive Carol Bartz is reportedly being considered to replace Jerry Yang as the head of Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO), where her experience as the CEO of Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) for 14 years may be just what the struggling search engine maker needs.

Bartz, 60, was CEO of Autodesk from 1992 to 2006, during which time the design software company's revenues grew from $285 million to $1.25 billion. She also has a wealth of experience beyond Autodesk. Previously, she served as an executive at Sun Microsystems Inc. (JAVA), Digital Equipment Corp. and 3M Corp. (MMM) Currently, she serves on the boards of Intel Corp. (INTC) (alongside Yahoo! president Susan Decker), Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), NetApp Inc. (NTAP) and the Foundation for the National Medals of Science and Technology, as well as being on President Bush's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Bartz, with a reputation for not pulling any punches, clearly can hold her own with the leaders of Yahoo!'s competitors and potential partners, not to mention the company's vocal shareholders, such as Carl Icahn. The potential deal choices include a search deal with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and a merger with Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX) AOL LLC.

It's true that Bartz is not known as a Web 2.0 visionary, but Yahoo! has already had one of those at the top. A consummate dealmaker like Bartz may be exactly what Yahoo! needs now. A replacement for Yang may be named as soon as next week. - Mary Kathleen Flynn

Comments

[Michael Mur...:]

What Yahoo needs "at the top" is a complete amputation. So holding back there. Starting with the board, then working down the management team and especially AXING "The THREE AMIGOS" (YANG, DECKER, FILO). The only way a new incoming CEO will be able to function is with a completely clean slate and a board that is composed of outside the box thinkers that are not staples of the company and that have not been seated with the current board.

Blow the dust out of the boardroom. They've gotten too comfy. Take away any grants of stock and throw them out on their keesters is my recommendation and that of anyone else who has any sense and has reviewed the failures in this company over the past 10 years.

Having worked for AutoDESK...okay, not bad. Having worked for SUN...So what. I did as well. I got out before the stock hit $3.00 a share. That is another company that needs an executive team cleaning starting with Schwartz & McNealy, but that's a whole year worth of writing there.

Michael Murdock, CEO

Jan 12 10:48 AM