This is the next step for the Search+Community Website behemoth known as Y! - Jerry and Sue are veterans by all standards in running and developing this company and I look forward to them taking Y! from strength to strength..... Here's looking at a stockprice upturn (we're all indirectly involed in this!).
As always - Duane


With Yahoo's Semel Out, Yang Makes People Priority
by Tameka Kee and Laurie Petersen, Tuesday, Jun 19, 2007
WITH A STEADY STREAM OF departures at all levels turning into a flood, Yahoo's co-founder and newest CEO Jerry Yang said "motivating, developing and attracting talent" will be one of his top priorities. In a Silicon Valley awash in venture-funded startups, that may be the toughest challenge.

Despite protestations from the board, speculation is rampant that the company is set to be broken up or merged.

Yang sought to galvanize investors during the press conference announcing his appointment with six words: "I am ready for the challenge."

Yang defined the key challenges that the Web giant continues to grapple with: from an underperforming search monetization platform, to the ever-increasing spate of rivals for its share of user traffic, to the "competition for our talent" that has led to employee attrition. He also laid out a road map for how the company would move forward.

Yang will have a formidable partner to lead Yahoo through its multi-year expansion plan, as former executive vice president Sue Decker now assumes the role of president. In her new role, Decker will continue to build the partnerships that are integral to Yahoo's growth strategy (such as a display advertising deal with Comcast), and will further implement the company's operational reorganization that began last year under Terry Semel, who announced his resignation after the market closed.

Yesterday's announcement ended months of speculation on whether Semel would keep his position as CEO amidst Yahoo's struggles with sub-par earnings forecasts, the loss of senior management personnel, and the relentless industry perception that it's always a step behind Google.

Semel countered those theories indirectly in his public resignation letter and statement, saying: "I've been clear in my desire to take a step back from an executive role, sooner rather than later. I've long been talking to the Board about ensuring a smooth succession--and the need for a leadership team committed to leading Yahoo through its multi-year transformation."