As SS Yahoo appears to be sinking, let me be the contrarian about her future. I admit, I find it as hard to believe as anyone that Yahoo has much life left in it after all the executive departures this week, plus the latest news of Delicious founder Joshua Schacter going. But since Yahoo’s leadership […]
There’s been a near parade of executives leaving Yahoo recently. TechCrunch reports three more are going or ready to go according to “sources close to the company.”
Yahoo feels like a nation that won its independence only to see all its leaders immediately flee the country. The latest emigrants: Flickr cofounders Caterina Fake and Stewart Butterfield. Their departure is unlikely to stall Flickr, but it gives a terrible impression of Yahoo as a company in further disarray.
Consistent with earlier speculation, Jeff Weiner will be leaving Yahoo and become an “executive in residence” for both Accel Partners and Greylock Partners in the fall (he remains at Yahoo for a transition period). Yahoo President Sue Decker informed the rank and file and tried to maintain confidence in the company (her email via TechCrunch) […]
When the highly anticipated Yahoo-Google paid search deal was announced on Thursday, the fallout and speculation began immediately: would it help Yahoo or was it an act of capitulation to Google? Coming as it did with the formal end of talks with Microsoft, was it a betrayal of Yahoo shareholders? Ironically, insurgent Yahoo stockholder and […]
Today’s Search Biz is a nearly all Google column. Barry wrote about departures at Yahoo and Ask, which were originally part of today’s roundup. So today’s column is mostly culled from a series of interviews in which Google CEO Eric Schmidt opines about a range of topics, from Android-iPhone competition to whether Google has become […]
A Delaware judge presiding over shareholder litigation against Yahoo has denied the company’s request to maintain a seal over the complaint in the matter. (Complaints are typically public records unless the parties can meet a high bar to keep them confidential.) The news was first reported by Reuters and Barrons.
With the first day over since Microsoft bailed on Yahoo, I find myself chuckling with agreement over Valleywag’s "Post-Microsoft, Yahoo shares ‘plunge’ from $19 to $24.60" headline. Yahoo fared far better than many had predicted. Part of that may be due to thoughts that it is not all over yet for a Yahoo-Microsoft marriage or […]
The question of the day seems to be how low will Yahoo go when the US stock market opens later today. Even I, optimistic about Yahoo’s chances on its own, don’t expect it to rise. But maybe the latest blog spin from Yahoo, along with formal news of a deal with Google, will help slow […]
News.com reports that Benjamin Fried, a Morgan Stanley managing director, has been pegged to fill the chief information officer spot that opened up when Douglas Merrill left earlier this month. Google’s confirmed the move.
The Seattle PI is suggesting that the fight for control of Yahoo’s board, which Microsoft had previously threatened, may begin in earnest this weekend. Conversations with institutional shareholders have already been taking place. The three week deadline set by Steve Ballmer for Yahoo to come to the table will expire this weekend; hence the Seattle […]
Yahoo’s largest investor doubles down from News.com reports Capital World Investors has doubled their stake in Yahoo, giving them a 10.1% percent stake in the company. Capital World Investors was Yahoo’s largest investor, and obviously still is. They now own 135,542,600 shares as of March 31, up 95-percent from the end of last year.
The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that Yahoo’s second largest shareholder, investment firm Legg Mason, characterized Microsoft’s recent ultimatum letter as a tactical “blunder” and said it would support Yahoo’s independence if Microsoft maintained or lowered its current offer.
On Saturday, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sent a public ultimatum of sorts to Yahoo’s board: accept our offer or we’ll force it on you. Today Yahoo responded publicly to Ballmer’s letter. In essence it says: we’re “not opposed to a transaction” but pay us more.
Reuters is reporting that Microsoft may be reconsidering its bid for Yahoo in light of changed market conditions and signs of potential weakness in Yahoo’s “core business.” The article cites as sources the familiar unnamed “people familiar with the matter.” There are few details and nobody from either company comments.
Writing the Search Biz column is challenging because of the diverse group of stories that get collected every day. Today there’s an unusually large number; however, there are basically three broad themes: Google and the company’s legal challenges, Yahoo’s Jekyll and Hyde positions on China and human rights, and the revolving personnel door at both […]
With two high-ranking Google executives leaving the Big G within a month’s time, I thought it would be interesting to go back through Google’s executive management page over the years and see how it reflects changes among the higher-ups. Below, there are a series of tables and commentary that hopefully let you understand the shifting […]
IAC stays in Barry Diller’s control. US government agencies look to Google’s search hardware to find information. Google’s hotel-industrial complex that’s coming to Mountain View. Those darn declining paid clicks — will they hurt Google’s bottom line? Yahoo breaks out golden handcuffs to retain employees, while Google loses another one to Facebook. And more in […]
Today in Search Biz: News Corp isn’t throwing Yahoo a life preserver to fend off Microsoft. Ask loses a (small) paid search partner and gets competition for those women it now says it’s not really that focused on (sort of). Google’s stock hits a new low, but will it plunge below $400? Facebook founder Mark […]
As Yahoo celebrates its 13th birthday, the looming question is: will the company be able to find an alternative to the Microsoft offer, or will Steve Ballmer & Co. prevail? According to the Wall Street Journal, Yahoo has recently “stepped up” talks with AOL about potentially folding AOL’s business into Yahoo.
Facebook announced Sheryl Sandberg as the new Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. Sandberg worked at Google for six years as Vice President of Global Online Sales & Operations. Sandberg will join Facebook on March 24, 2008 and is responsible for helping the company scale its operations and expand its presence globally.
Previewing the teams involved in the Google-sponsored Lunar X prize, Google co-founder Sergey Brin told the Associated Press following the event that he found the prospect of Microsoft owning Yahoo “unnerving.” Meanwhile, Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang, according to Charles Cooper at CNET, is “girding for the certainty of a coming proxy war with Microsoft.”
Bill Gates told Reuters that, with or without Yahoo, the company would be investing heavily in Web search over the long term to compete with Google. Whether genuine or a negotiating position, Gates’ remarks also suggest that there won’t be any significant adjustments in the bid amount, currently valued at just over $41 billion and […]
Having earlier told Microsoft no, now Yahoo has explained to its shareholders why it declined to be purchased. The full letter can be found here. Below, some highlights.
The weekend rumor becomes reality. Yahoo has rejected Microsoft’s offer, saying it undervalues Yahoo. From the release:
Wondering what’s next after the news that Yahoo apparently plans to reject Microsoft’s takeover offer? The Times Of London reports Yahoo will restart merger talks with AOL. Below, more about the news along with some back history on AOL in search and why a Yahoo-AOL partnership might indeed be a compelling way to convince Yahoo […]
Has it only been a week since Microsoft thought it was a nice day for a Yahoo wedding? Indeed, so. And what’s happened since? Rumors that Yahoo is nearing a decision, while Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer seems to want to encourage his potential new employees that a Yahoo brand will survive. Let’s do the news.
Yet another employee letter to Yahoos from CEO Jerry Yang has now become public, thanks to Yahoo being required to file these things with the US Securities & Exchange Commission. It makes you wonder why Yahoo (and Microsoft) don’t just publicly blog these letters to their workers, since they come out anyway
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal both report on the legal battle for control of IAC’s board and thus the company itself. It’s not pretty, and IAC claims that it’s impeding the company’s ability to effectively operate. The legal fight arguably prevents IAC from making any sort of overture (so to speak) toward […]
Now that we’ve posted our own five different stories on the Microsoft bid for Yahoo, I wanted to take a spin across what others are writing up. Below, a recap of things I found interesting below. In particular, I’ve tried to focus on stuff that’s got original observations or interesting tidbits other than the general […]
The Wall Street Journal covers the “open warfare” between IAC CEO Barry Diller and Liberty Media, one of its largest backers and investors. Liberty Chairman John Malone has grown increasingly frustrated with IAC’s financial and stock performance and Diller himself. Diller has control of the company through a Byzantine procedural agreement that allows him to […]
Over the past several days, a number of blogs (PaidContent, Silicon Alley Insider, TechCrunch) have reported and speculated (based on tips) that Yahoo was contemplating significant job cuts, perhaps as many as 2,500.
Another Media Exec Leaves Yahoo from the New York Times blog reports Vince Broady, a senior vice president of Yahoo’s entertainment business, is leaving the company. The article shows how media executives at Yahoo have been leaving one after another. Maybe it is Yahoo streamlining? Maybe it is a difference of opinion between the media […]
IAC, Ask.com’s parent company, has announced that Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Ask.com, will be replaced immediately by Jim Safka as the new CEO of Ask.com. Safka was previously the CEO of Match.com, IAC’s online dating company, from 2004 to 2007. He will also retain his job at as CEO of Primal Ventures, an investment […]
NY Google Vet Hirsch Leaving For Startups from Silicon Alley Insider reports David Hirsch, the Director, B2B Vertical Markets Group at Google, is leaving at the end of this month to help invest and advise start ups. He told Silicon Alley Insider, he is planning on “helping incubate and accelerate the early stage game.” Hirsch […]
Coleman is out, and president Sue Decker rises to the top. Hilary Schneider (is it possible that she is Decker’s long lost twin?) smugly rules ad sales and partnerships (Global Partner Solutions), leaving Jeff Weiner to run content (Yahoo! Network Division). According to a Valleywag tipster, these two hate each other’s guts.
Ballmer discusses Yahoo acquisition rumour from PC Advisor reports on a recent interview with Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer and PBS’s Charlie Rose. In that interview, Rose questions Ballmer of the Yahoo/Microsoft merger rumors from earlier this year. The new revived question is if Microsoft is still interested in a Yahoo acquisition.
A recent SEC filing reports that LookSmart CEO David Hill announced his resignation on July 26th, to be effective as of yesterday. LookSmart swiftly appointed Edward F. West, the current chair of its board of directors, to take over for the time being.
Paul Levine, GM of Yahoo Local, is leaving (his decision) after almost five years and being replaced by Jennifer Dulski, who is now going to be Group Vice President & General Manager, Marketplace. Her title reflects a strategy shift and will combine Local with Shopping, Travel, Autos and Real Estate and represents a more integrated […]
Chris Tolles announced that he would be taking over the roll of CEO at Topix. Rich Skrenta, the former CEO of Topix, will be a member of the board and an advisor. Why the change? Chris explains that Rich wasn’t having “as much fun” as he did in the past. Chris explained that Topix needs […]