So it’s official Sue Decker; the albatross around Yahoo’s neck (well one of them anyway), is out the door. In a smart move she announced this at the same time that Carol Bartz was confirmed as the company’s CEO. Kara Swisher over at Boomtown just posted the good-bye memo that Decker sent to all those that were probably too busy to read it as they were having a good-bye party for her. Anyway here’s the memo in it’s full glory

From: Sue Decker
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 2:32 PM
To: all-worldwide@yahoo-inc.com
Subject: The next chapter

Yahoos

After almost nine incredibly rewarding years with this terrific company, I have decided that it is time for me to pursue my next chapter, just as Yahoo! is charting the next phase of its path-breaking journey.

I have not made this decision lightly. I have been with this company for nearly a decade, and together we have been through a period of amazing change during this time. In particular, I want to thank the Board and especially Jerry, who has been my partner and friend from the very beginning, for affording me the opportunity to contribute to Yahoo!’s success.

The Yahoo! of today is a radically different company than the one I joined in 2000, as befits a major franchise in one of the world’s fastest-evolving industries. Financially, the company has grown its revenue base from a little over $1 billion in 2000 to more than $7 billion, and has more than quadrupled its operating cash flow from around $400 million to close to $2 billion. Over that period, working together, we have reshaped one of the world’s most vital Internet brands and transformed the company in ways the outside world is only just beginning to see. We did this by anticipating customer needs and evolving our business model ahead of dynamic changes to the online marketplace. While it is true that competition has never been fiercer, it is equally true that Yahoo! has moved decisively and creatively forward.

I am especially proud of some of the innovative open and customizable products and platforms we have developed in the last 18 months, including:

The APT display platform, which has the potential to transform the way display advertising is bought and sold BOSS (Build your own search service), which lets others use our search technology through open API’s.

The host of mobile and device platforms and services which are fundamentally changing the way consumers experience the internet on devices beyond the PC.

Our new Home Page, which will launch early in 2009, and will be open to 3rd party content and help Yahoo! lean into its greatest strength: understanding consumers.

We also faced the difficult decision of reducing costs in a way that has allowed us to hit our profitability objectives, notwithstanding the tough economy. Not too many companies can say that. The result of all of this hard work is a company which has positioned itself to weather a challenging economic cycle and come out the other side stronger than before.

But the real testament to the success this company has achieved is you. You are the best in the business–tremendously talented, highly skilled and incredibly dedicated to making Yahoo! stronger for our users and advertisers. Even through a turbulent 2008 and in the face of unrelenting distractions, you held your heads high and stayed focused, releasing some amazing new products for users and experiences for advertisers that demonstrate your tremendous insight, energy and passion. It has been my great pleasure working with all of you, and I have every confidence that going forward you will continue to drive Yahoo! ahead and to prosper.

As I turn my attention to helping transition in the most successful way possible, I want to congratulate Carol on her new role and put my full support behind her. I would ask that you all do the same. She and I serve together on the Intel board, so I have had the pleasure of seeing her in action. She is a decisive, passionate leader that I believe will serve Yahoo! well as it embarks on the next phase of its evolution.

I am extremely grateful for the time I have had at Yahoo! This has been a profoundly enriching experience for me, both personally and professionally. As I set off on for my next mission, I want to extend my sincerest wishes to all of you for continued success.

Sue

I wonder how long it will be before the good folks at Yahoo can start believing it when they say Sue Who?

Sue Decker sends out a good-bye memo to those who care is a post from: The Inquisitr

I was going to write up something earlier today when the news was first breaking about Carol Bartz being rumoured to be the next Yahoo CEO, but I figured it would be more interesting to watch the story develop. So now we know that Bartz did indeed get offered the job and accepted. This was quickly followed up on with the news that Sue Decker would be leaving – couldn’t happen soon enough in my opinion. It has also been interesting reading much of the punditry that has been flowing for the better part of the day; and will likely continue for sometime. There’s nothing like fresh meat on the block to get bloggers of all stripes salivating – no more echo … for a couple of days anyway.

While everyone was centering around the actual news of the hiring there were more than a few bloggers that questioned whether or not this was actually the right choice given the lack of knowledge about the web that people say Bartz is lacking. Duh! like that is really some great mystery – give it a rest will ya. The web is a business just like any other business. Just because it is suppose to have this magical quality to be world changing doesn’t change the fact that the idea is to make money. Does the fact that Bartz led a multi-million dollar company into being a Billion dollar company not suggest that she has enough smarts to possible do what Yang, Decker and Semel couldn’t do – not on your life.

More than a few people have suggested that she immediately hire some really smart web people to try and turn around the company. Did we forget that this is the company that was suppose to have some of the smartest web people working for them as the company tumbled into the basement. Maybe what Yahoo really needs is [web] business smart people – you know those people who actually have an understanding that to be a successful web company you have to be first a successful company.

Sound like a misnomer? Well not really if you think about it for two seconds. The fact that Bartz is a successful tech business person with more guts than a lot of us have (remember this woman fought breast cancer at the same time she was changing the corporate culture at Autodesk). If anything her first priority will be to get the rank and file in the company to once again believe in themselves and Yahoo. The best way to do this? Start swinging the axe at those entrenched corporate bureaucrats that have destroyed the company.

As Susan Mernit said in her post today about the news

The rank and file is hangin’ in there, but they are pretty damned fried. Yahoo! is a sweet deal for certain sorts of front end engineer and product developer types, but even the most stalwart (survived 3 layoffs) are starting to look around.

Last time, the old guard won. Mostly, it’s the old-timers–not the social media kids, the Microsofties, or the start-up animals–who are still there. And they protect their buddies, and their turf. So, remember, they’ve survived LOTS of re-orgs and, like moss, they’re still growing there.

and really if anyone of the talking heads speak from any real knowledge on this it is Susan as she was once the Director of Global Product at Yahoo Personals.

Yahoo has needed a really big shakeup for sometime now but from the top down. The company has been decimated in its recent battles to stave of Microsoft and in its attempts to prostitute itself to Google. I have seen more than a few people from Yahoo on places like Twitter and Friendfeed and these are smart web people and I hope Bartz does turn it around but it is going to take more than just the empty platitudes. Perhaps the exiting stage left by Decker is a real signal of the changes to come. I hope they are deep and leave  the executive bathrooms full of people shitting bricks about losing their jobs – because they should.

Myself .. well if I had the money I’d be buying Yahoo stock right now because I think there is going to be some surprises in the air and the rank and file along with Yahoo users are going to be the winners.

Yahoo – but is there anything really to cheer about? is a post from: The Inquisitr