mocoNews.net - It's Official: Former Autodesk Exec Carol Bartz Is New Yahoo CEO; Sue Decker Is Out

Carol Bartz is in as Yahoo CEO effective immediately?and Sue Decker is leaving as president after being passed over for the job. Decker will stay on as president for a "transitional" period. Bartz comes to Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO) from Autodesk, where she has been executive chairman since stepping down in 2006 after 14 years as CEO. A few hours after reports of her appointment started to emerge, Bartz is already on board, holding management meetings this afternoon; in fact, she's already listed on the management team page. Release.

Bartz and Roy Bostock, chairman of the Yahoo board, held a brief conference call just after the official news went out. He mentioned her reputation for a "decisive style" multiple times and stressed that Bartz is "the only person to whom we've offered this job." Decker gets a thank you for all her work and for agreeing to help with the transition?the conference call equivalent of a laurel and a hearty handshake. Bartz picked up the verbal baton with a "ya-hoo." From the call:

? "I believe there is now an extraordinary opportunity going forward to create value for our shareholders. ... Should we do a search deal? Should we divest of certain assets?" She said she has a lot of thoughts on these subjects but it would be very presumptuous of me to discuss them publicly my first day on the job." Describing herself as a straight shooter, she said she will do a "deep dive" before talking more to analysts and reporters. She said the next time we would hear from here is at the Yahoo earnings call on Jan. 27.

Asked about her background in Q&A, Bartz said she didn't know CAD when she joined Autodesk and "I suspect I have a little brain power to learn what it takes to understand media."

?"I think Yahoo has unfortunately been battered in the last year?. the important thing we're going to focus on is being best in all of our markets and creating new markets? We're going to kick a little butt." More to come.