Save 50% on a 3-month Digiday+ membership. Ends Dec 5.
Struggling Web icon Yahoo has appointed Marissa Mayer as its fifth CEO in as many years, in what looks much like another desperate attempt to turn its fortunes around.
Mayer joins from Google, where she worked for over 13 years and most recently headed up its location and local services. According to The New York Times, she resigned from the her post abruptly yesterday by telephone, and will officially begin work with Yahoo today.
Below, some Twitter reaction to the news from digital media executives.
Kirby Winfield, SVP campaign verification, comScore.
“Look and feel” – yeah, that’s the problem with #Yahoo! #MarissaMeyer #FAIL
— Kirby Winfield (@kirbywinfield) July 16, 2012
Matt Stratz, CEO, Namely.
Mad Ave should hire an official ombudsman just to meet with the revolving door of Yahoo! CEOs.
— Matt Straz (@mattstraz) July 16, 2012
Ad position: web_incontent_pos1
Jeff Lanctot, global chief media officer, Razorfish.
I’m sure Marissa will prove to be great. But why did the board even make Ross interim (presumptive) CEO? Now yet another strategy shift.
— Jeff Lanctot (@lanctot) July 16, 2012
Bill Wise, CEO, Media Ocean.
4 CEO’s later and a market cap that has lost BILLIONS… I hope @Yahoo doesn’t think its a TECH company now… Y! is a MEDIA company! #Yahoo
— Bill Wise (@billwise) July 16, 2012
Jason Hirschhorn, former co-president, MySpace.
and Yahoo moves away from media again…
Ad rendering preventing in staging
Ad position: web_incontent_pos2— Jason Hirschhorn (@JasonHirschhorn) July 16, 2012
Chris Dixon, entrepreneur and investor.
Wow, big win for Yahoo. RT @nytimes Breaking News: Google’s Marissa Mayer Tapped as Yahoo’s Chief dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/goo…
— chris dixon (@cdixon) July 16, 2012
Bryan Fuhr, SVP, Havas Digital North America.
Good luck, Marissa Mayer. Do the first generation of internet veterans proud. #in
— Bryan Fuhr (@bryanfuhr) July 16, 2012
More in Media
Digiday+ Research Subscription Index 2025: Subscription strategies from Bloomberg, The New York Times, Vox and others
Digiday’s third annual Subscription Index examines and measures publishers’ subscription strategies to identify common approaches and key tactics among Bloomberg, The New York Times, Vox and others.
From lawsuits to lobbying: How publishers are fighting AI
We may be closing out 2025, but publishers aren’t retreating from the battle of AI search — some are escalating it, and they expect the fight to stretch deep into 2026.
Media Briefing: Publishers turn to vertical video to compete with creators and grow ad revenue in 2026
Publishers add vertical video feeds to their sites to boost engagement, attract video ad spend and compete with news creators.
Ad position: web_bfu