Yahoo Search ends: New CEO Carol Bartz
By Partho, Gaea News NetworkWednesday, January 14, 2009
She loves leading, loves managing and loves to make tough decisions. She is the new ace, CEO of one of the world’s top web portal and search engine service - Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO). Is she the undisputed selection? The 60 year old pro, a level headed, tech-veteran is all set take up the challenges. Withal, investors have their fingers crossed for the new CEO, Carol Bartz. They are skeptic over her lack of web business know-how and deal-making skills.
Carol Bartz is Yahoo’s two months of extensive search for the top position. Carol is backed by her consistent and prolific track record at Autodesk Inc, where she served as a chief executive for 14 years, 1992 to 2006. Under Bartz the company’s revenue escalated from $285 million to $1.5 billion. She is credited for transforming the aimless PC software-maker into a leading computer-aided design software company. She still remains an executive chairman with the company.
On the darker side, Bartz seems to lack a reputation of deal-maker. With shares of the Internet search and advertising company declining by 3 percent on her appointment date, investors are apprehensive about Yahoo’s moves.
For her critic, Needham & Co analyst Richard Davis, Bartz is direct and focused, but not a mercenary like her counterparts. He also feels that Bartz is more of a builder than buyer-and-flipper. Although analysts are all praises for the efficient, dedicated and dextrous executive, but they are skeptic about her lack of experience in Internet sector. For Bartz its a maiden venture to turn around Yahoo, second only to Google Inc in search engine advertising market and that too significantly away from the G- giant.
With odds in favor Bartz will have to perform under pressure from annoyed investors who have seen the value of their shares dip in the past years. And I wonder what will it take from her to get even close to what Google has achieved in the search engine market. That is going to be the biggest challenge for her.
The question is Can she or can’t she? We will wait.
