Marissa Mayer, one of Google's top executives, will begin her new role as Yahoo's chief executive on Tuesday. Mayer's new position will make her one of the most influential women in corporate America today.
Mayer was appointed into her new position at Yahoo on Monday. She will be replacing former chief executive, Scott Thompson, who resigned after speculations about academic dishonesty after working as chief executive for only four months.
"It's a very interesting departure and a very interesting choice," said Martin Sorrell, chief executive of WPP, a large advertising agency, to the New York Times. "She comes with a formidable reputation, but we'll see how she analyzes it all."
Mayer will serve as the company's fifth chief executive in less than a year. The role is one that will be difficult to fill as Yahoo's biggest struggle in the past few years is one to stay relevant in the current social media market. In the past, Yahoo has failed to keep up with the times and has been overpowered by social media giants such as Google and Facebook.
Mayer says that she hopes to move Yahoo forward by focusing on its stronger points such as e-mail, sports, and finance.
"In the last few years, given the turnover, there has been a lack of attention on the user experience," David Filo, a co-founder of Yahoo said in an interview with the Times. "We need to get back to basics."
In the past weeks, several names have been considered in Yahoo's short list of possible candidates to fill the position, however Mayer's name was not one of those floating around. Many believed Yahoo planned on hiring Ross Levinsohn, who had taken the role of interim chief following Thompson's departure. However, the Yahoo board is looking forward to what Mayer can contribute as new head of the company.
