New Yahoo! CEO asks employees to stop press leaks… in… leaked memo.

25 Jan

Posted by Tom Andries as Finance & Stocks

Carol Bartz and the Yahoo! Comeback?
There’s a new CEO in town at Yahoo. Her name is Carol Bartz, a hardened and experienced manager. Someone not to be fooled around with according to insiders.

That might be just what the doctor ordered for Yahoo! Bartz just freezed employee pays for the next 2 years and she won’t let Microsoft bully Yahoo! around either. One of Bartz’s first comments was her guts told her not to sell Yahoo! Search to Steve Ballmer and his Windows mob. Nice!

One week in, Carol Bartz sent a memo to all Yahoo! asking to stop press leaks… which you can read in the subsequently leaked memo…

Carol will have the tough task announcing Yahoo!’s most recent Q4 numbers next tuesday. And while everyone is expecting them to be dismal, the low expectations might just leave some room for positive surprise too. However small…

From: Carol Bartz
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 3:12 PM
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