Yahoo Appoints Former Autodesk Head as CEO
By Anna Johnson on January 15th, 2009Yahoo has appointed Carol Bartz, the former CEO and Executive Chairman of Autodesk, as Yahoo’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors.
Prior to becoming Executive Chairman of Autodesk in 2006, Bartz, aged 60, led Autodesk as CEO for 14 years. During Bartz’s time as CEO, Autodesk’s revenues increased from less than $300 million to more than $1.5 billion, and the company’s share price increased nearly ten-fold.
Before leading Autodesk, Carol Bartz led global operations, engineering, sales and marketing organizations for large technology and engineering companies including Sun Microsystems, Digital Equipment Corporation and 3M.
I’m guessing that one of Bartz’s major selling points was her track record in transforming Autodesk. Yahoo is, no doubt, hoping she can engineer a similar transformation to reverse its flagging fortunes.
One comes. Another goes. In announcing the appointment of Carol Bartz, Yahoo also said that President Sue Decker plans to resign after remaining with Yahoo during a transitional period.
Source: Press Release, “Carol Bartz Joins Yahoo! as Chief Executive Officer, ” Yahoo, January 13, 2008
