This day in search marketing history: January 17
The Google Speed Update, plus: links important for ranking, cross-device conversions, SOPA, Google Alerts and more.
Topic: Roy J. Bostock
It’s Official: PayPal President Scott Thompson The New Yahoo CEO
AllThingsD reported late yesterday that PayPal president Scott Thompson would likely be named CEO of Yahoo. It’s now official; Yahoo just put out its formal press release announcing Thompson’s appointment. In appointing Thompson, Yahoo is choosing a leader with a deeper technology and product background than prior CEO Carol Bartz who was abruptly terminated last […]
With Carol Bartz Out As CEO, Yahoo Needs To Find Its Own “Steve Jobs”
The not-so-shocking news came yesterday afternoon that embattled Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz was fired. When Bartz came to power in January 2009 I compared her to then newly elected Barak Obama. Both confronted crises and high expectations. Both have seen goodwill erode and give way to disappointment. Low Employee Approval The task of both chief […]
Confirmed: Bartz Out As Yahoo CEO
Details are very sparse, but All Things Digital is reporting that Carol Bartz’s rocky tenure as Yahoo CEO has ended. All Things Digital reports that current CFO Tim Morse will take over the CEO spot on an interim basis. Speculation raged earlier this summer that Bartz’ days were numbered when Yahoo announced weak Q2 financials. […]
Layoffs At Microsoft Widely Expected To Be Announced This Week
A year ago this would have seemed impossible: layoffs at Microsoft. Until relatively recently Redmond was saying that it would be able to weather the recession without significant disruption. However cost cutting is now the order of the day and no one appears immune. The layoff rumors first appeared in December and have steadily resurfaced. […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, January 19, 2009
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Yahoo & Microsoft Execs Meet Again
Valleywag is reporting that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer met with Yahoo chairman Roy Bostock Thursday in New York City. As you can imagine, news of the meeting has restarted speculation about the on-again, off-again merger/deal talks. The New York Times says that spokespersons for both companies refused to comment about the Ballmer-Bostock meeting. Earlier this […]
Autodesk’s Carol Bartz Named New Yahoo CEO; Sue Decker To Leave As President
According to news out today from the Wall Street Journal, Carol Bartz, the former CEO (and current executive chairman) of software company Autodesk, will be named the new Yahoo CEO. Bartz has been praised for her management and deal brokering skills but has never run an internet company, nor does she have an advertising background. […]
Jerry Yang Stepping Down As CEO; Resuming Chief Yahoo Role
Yahoo has announced that Jerry Yang, Yahoo’s founder and current CEO, will be stepping down from the CEO role after Yahoo finds a successor. Jerry will resume his former role of Chief Yahoo when the new CEO comes in. All Things Digital has posted the email Jerry sent out to the company; I will include […]
After Re-Tally, “No” Votes Against Yahoo Board Higher Than First Reported
I must have done something in a past life that now requires me, as punishment, to write about the obscure politics of Yahoo’s corporate governance on an almost daily basis. Accordingly, a recount of board votes from last Friday’s Yahoo annual shareholder meeting found that the “no” votes against most of the current board membership, […]
SearchCap: The Day In Search, August 5, 2008
Below is what happened in search today, as reported on Search Engine Land and from other places across the web.
Vote Count Controversy: Yahoo Shareholder Wants Recount
At last Friday’s annual Yahoo shareholder meeting, the Yahoo slate of directors was re-elected, with CEO Jerry Yang and Chariman Roy Bostock receiving 15 percent and 20 percent “no” votes. AllThingsD points out these numbers are actually better than last year in the absence of the MicroHoo controversy and proxy contest. Yahoo Director Robert A. […]
Yahoo Survives Annual Meeting, Re-Elects Board, Microsoft Cries Foul
Perhaps we’re coming to the point where we’ll no longer be writing about Microsoft and Yahoo and their failed courtship. We’ll see. Today Yahoo survived its long-anticipated shareholder meeting. It’s detailed in this CNET blog post. At the conclusion of the meeting, Yahoo issued a statement that its slate of directors was elected, following the […]
With Yahoo Proxy Fight Done, Shareholder Protest Now Largely “Symbolic”
Reuters reports that Gordon Crawford of Capital Research and Management, one of Yahoo’s largest shareholders, has apparently said that he may not support the existing Yahoo board at Friday’s annual shareholder meeting. The only trouble is that Yahoo’s settlement with Carl Icahn removes the ability for Crawford and other disgruntled shareholders to vote for alternatives […]
As Yahoo Proxy Vote Looms, Questions Arise About Board Composition And Management’s Future
The never-ending MicroHoo drama has provided virtual reams of blog posts and endless fodder for speculation. The latest installment involves the question of whether Carl Icahn’s proxy battle for control of Yahoo’s board will see any success. In case you joined this story late, institutional shareholders are frustrated by Yahoo’s unwillingness to take the original […]
Search Biz: Where’s Eurekster?, Grab Google’s Gazillions?, WiFi “On Steriods,” & Yahoo Readies For Proxy Battle
Google’s recent decision to make its UK keyword bidding policy conform with the US practice of allowing competitors to bid on each other’s brands has drawn ire and threats of legal action. Today brings more such news of potential legal action against Google from a range of travel companies and retailers in the UK.
Carl Icahn Makes His Move To Oust Yahoo Board, Which Has “Completely Botched” Microsoft Merger Talks
As Danny reported earlier, Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is making a proxy move to oust the Yahoo board in an effort to reignite takeover talks with Microsoft. Just a few minutes ago a press release was issued by Icahn explaining his intentions and rationale.
Aftermath: Yahoo Still Open To Deals; Stock Largely Survives
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 […]
Yahoo! Addresses The Troops (And So Does Microsoft)
With all the furor about Microsoft’s potential acquisition of Yahoo!, how do the Yahoo! employees feel about the possibility? Top Yahoo! execs addressed employees on Friday and followed it up with a company-wide email. The email emphasizes that the bid was unsolicited, that no decisions have been made, and that Microsoft’s proposal is one of […]
Microsoft Makes $45 Billion Bid To Buy Yahoo
Microsoft is to bid $31 per share to Yahoo’s board of directors to purchase the company, a deal potentially worth $45 billion. Below, more details, some history, and analysis. We’ll also keep updating this story, and we’ll have a separate post linked from this when the conference call starts. The Proposal Microsoft has proposed to Yahoo’s Board Of Directors that Microsoft […]
Portfolio.com Releases Executive Profiles Of Search Execs
Gary Price reports that Portfolio.com released a database of top executives profiles, and part of that list includes many of the top executives from our beloved search engines. Here are quick links to some of those profiles of interest: