Yahoo! names Bartz as new CEO

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Yahoo! Inc. said Carol Bartz, the former chief executive officer of California software company Autodesk, will take over its reins from Jerry Yang.

Bartz led Autodesk, which produces software for architects and engineers, from 1992 to 2006 the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday. She is currently the company's executive chairwoman.

Bartz also worked stints at Sun Microsytems and Digital Equipment Corp.

Yahoo! CEO Jerry Yang, a co-founder of the company, is expected to stay on as a member of company's board. Along with the maneuvering, Yahoo! President Susan Decker, who applied for the CEO post, will now leave the company, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Bartz's challenges include turning around Yahoo!, which has recently experienced sliding stock prices and faces an uphill battle squaring up with its larger rival Google Inc.

It also remains to be seen whether Bartz's appointment will rekindle discussions with Microsoft, which failed in a bid to buy Yahoo! last year.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said recently that a transition to new leadership could set the stage for renewing negotiations for Yahoo!