SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo named technology veteran Carol Bartz as its new chief executive Tuesday, bringing in a no- nonsense leader known for developing a clear focus — something that has eluded the struggling Internet company during a three-year slump.
The decision to lure Bartz, 60, from software maker Auto desk ends a two-month search to replace co-founder Jerry Yang, who surrendered the CEO reins after potentially lucrative deals with Microsoft and Google collapsed.
After describing herself as a straight shooter, Bartz told analysts in a conference call that she intended to ensure Yahoo gets “some friggin’ breathing room” so the company can “kick some butt.” She said it would be presumptuous to share her vision for Yahoo on her first day on the job.
“I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t believe there was a huge opportunity here,” Bartz said before she had to hustle off to her first meeting with Yahoo’s top managers.
After a tepid early reaction, investors seemed to warm up to Bartz’s appointment. Yahoo shares fell 12 cents Tuesday to close at $12.10, then recovered 47 cents, almost 4 percent, in extended trading.
Bartz “is the exact combination of seasoned technology executive and savvy leader that the board was looking for,” said chairman Roy Bostock.
Yahoo’s decision to bring in an outsider apparently irked president Susan Decker, a candidate for CEO. She plans to resign after a transitional period. Decker and Bartz are on Intel’s board of directors.
Bartz’s track record indicates she will move quickly to build upon Yahoo’s strengths while shedding weaknesses.
“She is able to see the essence of things because she doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about how people are going to feel,” said Nilofer Merchant, a former Autodesk manager who is now CEO of technology consultant Rubicon. “She is driven by doing the best thing for the business.”
