Spencer Stuart

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

Kara Swisher 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.

Yahoo Restructures U.S. Ad Sales Force–With No New Head (But Apparently a Lot of Princes Charming)

Kara Swisher in News on August 2, 2010 at 1:30 pm PT

Yahoo announced today that it was restructuring its advertising sales force, after being without a head of its key U.S. unit since mid-March. Big news: No new top ad sales exec. Instead, several North American sales execs with larger portfolios will report directly to Hilary Schneider, who is in charge of the Americas for Yahoo. “I have kissed a lot of frogs over the years, but it turned out the Prince Charmings we always needed were back at the ranch,” said Schneider.

Help Wanted: So When Is Yahoo Going to Hire a New Head of Ad Sales?

Kara Swisher in News on July 6, 2010 at 9:00 am PT

It’s been almost four months since Joanne Bradford stepped down as head of U.S. revenue and market development for Yahoo, and the company has yet to hire a new exec to fill the key job. That’s got a lot of people inside Yahoo a little jumpy, according to numerous sources who have contacted me recently, because of the importance of firm leadership in the premium online ad business in which the Internet giant needs to keep excelling.

Peachy Keane? Will Yahoo Hold Onto Associated Content CEO?

Kara Swisher in News on May 24, 2010 at 5:15 am PT

Earlier this week, Yahoo acquired social content start-up Associated Content for $90 million. While founder Luke Beatty was prominently presented by Yahoo as the face of the deal, CEO Patrick Keane was oddly missing from most of the PR around the media-focused acquisition. The reason, according to several sources at Yahoo: Yahoo’s top execs have not yet persuaded Keane to stay after the purchase is complete. It’s not for lack of trying.

Calling All Yahoos–Or Are They Calling Demand Media?

Kara Swisher in News on May 7, 2010 at 3:52 pm PT

The temperature is rising between Yahoo and Demand Media as several execs move from the Internet giant to the social media start-up. In March, Demand pulled off a major coup by hiring Yahoo’s head of U.S. advertising sales, Joanne Bradford. Today, Erika Nardini, Yahoo’s VP of brand packaging, announced to her staff that she is leaving Yahoo, and she is widely expected to go to Demand too. Yahoo confirmed the move.

AOL Readies Board Picks for Spinoff–While Holding Off Search Suitors (Plus, BoomTown Director Choices!)

Kara Swisher in News on September 23, 2009 at 9:01 pm PT

According to sources close to the situation, AOL has been busy selecting the board for the company, which is still set to spin itself off by year’s end–even as it slows down a decision on a new search deal with either current partner Google or a more emboldened Microsoft. AOL is using Spencer Stuart in the search for directors, led by well-known headhunter Jim Citrin, sources said, and the company has already settled on several outside candidates.

Sticky Situation of the Month: Ex-Yahoo Communications Head (and "Peanut Butter Manifesto" Scribe) Garlinghouse to Helm Similar Unit at AOL

Kara Swisher in News on September 7, 2009 at 8:45 pm PT

Yahoo exec Brad Garlinghouse–famous for his controversial “Peanut Butter Manifesto,” which correctly chided the Internet giant for becoming so lugubrious several years ago–is taking a job at AOL very similar to the one he left at Yahoo last year. Garlinghouse, who will remain on the West Coast, will be named president of Internet and mobile communications at AOL, putting him in charge of the New York-based Time Warner online unit’s powerful email and instant-messaging properties, including ICQ and AIM. He will also be, said AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, its “CEO of Silicon Valley for us.”

Microsoft on the Hunt for a New Head of World-Wide Online Sales, Even as Yahoo Talks Continue

Kara Swisher in News on April 30, 2009 at 8:01 am PT

Microsoft is searching for a major executive to run its world-wide online sales, said several sources close to the situation, even as talks with Yahoo about a deal to partner in its search and display advertising businesses continue. “They need to find a way to make money in display,” said one source close to the situation. “Or, I guess, find a way to not lose quite so much.” The software giant has been trying to build its online business for many years now, spending a lot of money and not getting very much traction. Meanwhile, the talks Microsoft has been having with Yahoo about outsourcing its online display sales to the Internet giant, among other scenarios, continue.

The Entire Facebook Goodbye-Gideon-We-Are-the-Money-Champions Memo

Kara Swisher in News on April 2, 2009 at 9:02 am PT

Dear Elliot Schrage: BoomTown wins. As Sheryl knows from experience, don’t mess with the Swish. Or Texas. Or Zohan. Just don’t mess. For everyone else, here is the entire memo that Facebook sent out this week to its staff about the departure of CFO Gideon Yu and the financial status of the social-networking start-up, which some had been questioning.

Meet Peter Currie, Facebook's New Money Man (For Now)

Kara Swisher in News on April 1, 2009 at 7:11 am PT

Back in the heyday, Peter Currie was the money man to see in Silicon Valley. As CFO of Netscape Communications, he led the famed browser start-up into history, as the first great Internet rocket ship, when it went public on Aug. 9, 1995. Rising to insane levels, the stock was ground zero of the Internet gold rush, despite the fact that it had no profits to speak of. But it did have a 23-year-old co-founder and tech wunderkind in Marc Andreessen and a growth trajectory that was astounding. If you think it sounds somewhat similar to Facebook today–where Currie will now help out as temporary financial adviser after the social-networking site parted ways with its CFO, Gideon Yu, yesterday–you are correct.