Offering regional and national programs, CIO (and CSO) events bring together some of the most respected names and thought leaders in information technology and security. Presented by CIOs and other senior level executives, these invitation-only programs offer timely topics and strong networking. Learn More »
Public Council Teleconference: Application Rationalization — Hidden Costs and Smart Decisions
November 17 at 11:00 am US/Eastern (GMT-5)
Join Honorio Padrón, of The Hackett Group, who will share the drivers for companies to tackle application rationalization and the results of research that define the hidden cost of complexity. Additionally, we will discuss key decision milestones—to start or not, holding the course steady and fulfilling expectations.
Virtual Desktop Cost-Benefit Analysis — Michael Jacobs, Catlin Group
The analysis contained in this presentation measures the cost of everything from the machines and licenses to the infrastructure for virtual vs. traditional desktop environments.
Honor your best senior team members - Apply for the CIO Ones to Watch Award
Get well-earned public recognition for your top up-and-coming team members, your IT organization and your enterprise. Award winners will be announced, publicized and feted in May 2010, great timing to help attract new IT recruits to your company.
Learn more about the CIO Executive Council »May 07, 2008 — Computerworld —
Summer fireworks displays traditionally take place July 4 in the U.S., but this year Yahoo Inc.'s board of directors could be treated to some fireworks of their own at the company's annual shareholders meeting on July 3.
Eric Jackson, president of Ironfire Capital LLC in Naples, Fla., said some shareholders are still in disbelief that Yahoo turned down Microsoft Corp.'s acquisition bid and they're talking about proposing a new slate of directors to replace the current board.
"It's something we're definitely talking about with others, although at this [point] there's nothing definitive," Jackson said. "I'm not the only one talking to people about doing this. Everyone is weighing the positives and negatives of doing something like that. I think people realize that the shareholders are very upset. Nobody's happy; nobody's even neutral. They're really upset and they're still in disbelief several days later that we're in this position."
Yahoo declined to comment on the issue.
Although Jackson has only 96 of the 1.4 billion outstanding shares of Yahoo stock, the Associated Press reported that Yahoo stockholders with about 3 million shares have agreed to support Jackson in his attempts to replace the board.
According to the AP, even if Jackson doesn't assemble a new slate, he plans to urge shareholders not to re-elect of Yahoo's current directors. According to the wire service, in the months leading up to last year's annual shareholders meeting, Jackson organized an online protest against Terry Semel, who at that time was Yahoo's CEO. At that meeting, Jackson confronted Semel, asking him if he still had enough "fire in his belly" to do his job.
Semel resigned six days later and Yang became CEO.
Jackson has until the end of business on May 15 to submit an alternative slate.
On an unrelated note, The Wall Street Journal reported today that Microsoft officials have contacted Facebook Inc. to see whether the company's executives would be willing to sell the social-networking site. A person familiar with the matter, however, told the Journal that the companies are not actively talking about any such deal and it is unclear whether CEO Mark Zuckerberg would want to sell the privately held Facebook.
Microsoft already owns a 1.6% stake in the site worth about $240 million. According to the Journal, Microsoft has previously expressed an interest in buying Facebook.
The AllThingsD.com Web site, which is owned by Dow Jones & Co., first reported Microsoft's contact with Facebook, the Journal reported.