• The Wall Street Journal , Friday, January 9, 2009 11:31 AM

Yahoo is in the final stages of its search for a replacement to outgoing CEO Jerry Yang, The Wall Street Journal reports. One of the main candidates under consideration is Carol Bartz, the former CEO of Autodesk, a public company that builds design software used in engineering. "She's on the list," said one source, adding that Bartz impressed the Yahoo directors she's met with so far. That said, it's unclear whether Bartz is the front-runner or a background candidate.

Other sources tell the Journal that the board is now leaning toward an external pick to replace Yang. Former Vodafone Group CEO Arun Sarin, whom the Yahoo board had also been seriously considering, has withdrawn his name. Sources claim the Web giant has yet to make an offer and is unlikely to before next week. Either way, Yahoo is hoping to announce a new CEO before it reports fourth-quarter earnings at the end of the month.

The Journal says that choosing Bartz would indicate that Yahoo is looking for someone with experience running a public company. Bartz was CEO of Autodesk from 1992 to 2006; she currently serves as executive chairman. Bartz also sits on the boards of Cisco Systems and Intel Corp. However, it would seem that she has little Internet or online advertising experience. Should Yahoo choose her as Yang's successor, sources said the company could also seek to hire another senior exec with more extensive consumer product experience.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123146682191166925.html

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