5 posts and columns on Maverick

Hewlett-Packard's Imminent CEO Choice Needs to (And Will) Be Internal

in News on September 17, 2010 at 11:51 am PT

Because this is a big CEO search in Silicon Valley, naturally the Hewlett-Packard board turned to star headhunter Jim Citrin of Spencer Stuart for help in finding the next leader for the tech giant. He should not have to look far, since sources close to the situation said it is likely an internal candidate will be chosen over a more high-profile outsider. The reason? As Maverick’s motto in the movie “Top Gun” goes: The need for speed. Top of list? Personal Systems Group hotshot Todd Bradley, pictured here headed to work on the 101.

The One-Year Report Card of Yahoo's Carol Bartz–Management: A-

in News on January 14, 2010 at 8:04 am PT

Yesterday, BoomTown wished Carol Bartz a happy one-year anniversary as CEO of Yahoo. And today, it is time to shamelessly judge her tenure! First up: An evaluation of her decisive management style and tough-talking leadership.
grade-a-minus

Steve Bomb-mer Drops Another One on Yahoo, Whose Shares Tank to $9, as Microsoft Settles on Digital Head Pick

in News on November 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm PT

At least Yahoo got one day of stock euphoria, on the news that its CEO Jerry Yang was stepping down, before Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer dropped yet another bomb on the troubled Internet giant by saying once more with feeling that he is not at all interested in buying it. Yahoo shares plummeted on the news, dropping below $10 a share to close at $9.14, down $2.41 or an astonishing 21 percent. While lack of interest in acquiring Yahoo is a sentiment that Ballmer has expressed more times than Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said “maverick” in the presidential campaign, Wall Street continues to hold out hope that Microsoft might swoop in and make a new bid for all of Yahoo. It will not. Let’s repeat. It. Will. Not.

John McCain Scores on QVC, Oops, SNL

in News on November 2, 2008 at 11:26 am PT

As BoomTown has noted, one of the best things to come out of this election has been the very funny and very topical humor that has been on “Saturday Night Live” in this political cycle. Headlined by Tina Fey’s perfect impression of Sarah Palin, it has been biting without stooping to the rank meanness from so many other places by both sides. Last night, Republican Presidential candidate John McCain–who has been on SNL before (his “John McCain sings Streisand” skit was really a gem from that appearance)–was in two skits on the show and did a great job in both.

The App Test: Rating Programs for Google’s G1

in The Digital Solution on October 21, 2008 at 4:30 pm PT

Today, people interested in seeing the first Google-branded consumer-hardware product will get to satisfy their curiosity as the company, joining with T-Mobile, unveils its $179 G1 handheld computer. This touch-screen device will compete with Apple’s iPhone, and it includes a key feature missing in the iPhone: a physical keyboard.