Carol Bartz at Yahoo

I was surprised to hear today that Carol Bartz who is succeding Jerry Yang as CEO at Yahoo has started her job with sending out a really critical email to all staff and has frozen all pay rises, that is of course after she gave herself a really good package. She also said in an internal memo that she'd "dropkick to fucking Mars" anyone whose company gossip ended up on the blogs.

Then on friday last week, I guess having re-read the appropriate chapter in "how to win friends and influence people" she decided to do a frilly email to all staff about her first week at Yahoo.

From: Carol Bartz

Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 3:12 PM

To: all-worldwide@yahoo-inc.com

Subject: My First Friday


It’s Friday!


Wow, this week has gone fast. I thought I’d give you a quick
idea of how things went for me this week. First, a BIG thank you for
all the positive comments you’ve sent my way. It has really made me
feel welcome. And a special big thanks to all the guys (that’d be
Willie, Anthony, Jack, Allen, Daryl, Nathan, Ali, etc.) that worked so
quickly to get Judy and I up and running. I know I told you at the
all-hands that I was going to be bringing my lunch. That was before I
saw the cafeteria–it rocks! Forget that leftover stuff!


My first impression of the Yahoos is that you guys are smart and
dedicated, and have a lot of great energy with a can-do attitude (ok,
maybe there’s some sucking up because I’m the boss, but it impressed
the heck out of me).


I wasn’t too happy to see some “inside sources” quoting my
all-hands comments to the outside press–STOP IT! And while we’re on the
subject of all-hands, I cancelled the regularly scheduled
after-earnings meeting simply because it’s just too close to the one we
just had. Don’t take it as something it’s not.


I’m pumped up and proud to be here. I’m going to spend my
weekend shopping for something purple (great excuse for a little retail
therapy)…


Carol

talk about rubbing it in. Pay freeze for all you guys, but I have given myself a nice little package and so I am off to spend it.

I am curious though what her brief is. Is it to sell Yahoo to the highest bidder, or is it to turn Yahoo around. Certainly from her comments in the first week at the helm one would think that she means to save it. Let's see.

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