Jeremy Zawodny Is Leaving Yahoo!

Wow, that caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect to hear that Jeremy Zawodny is leaving Yahoo! For those who don’t know, Jeremy Zawodny is known as Yahoo!’s MSQL glue. He joined the Yahoo team back in 1999 and after almost ten years of amazing service he announced that he was leaving. I am not actually sure what his reason is for leaving Yahoo!, I am sure someone made him a really great offer he couldn’t refuse:

The reason I’m leaving is that something very compelling has come along to lure me away.

On Jeremy Zawodny’s personal blog he made the official announcement because he could tell that a rumor had leaked out and he figured that it would have been best to go ahead and make the official announcement. His announcement mainly thanked the many people he had worked with over the years and also provided a recap of his accomplishments over the ten years with Yahoo!

He wasn’t specific as to the reason why he was leaving Yahoo. Jeremy said, “The reason I’m leaving is that something very compelling has come along to lure me away.” Jeremy also mentioned that he has always had the desire to work for a smaller company. At the time of joining Yahoo! it consisted of only 2,000 employees. Jeremy said, “Ever since I graduated from college in 1997, I’ve wanted to work for a smaller company.” Currently Yahoo! employs around 14,000. Earlier in January of 2008 Yahoo! laid off a few thousand employees.

Jeremy admits that his decision to resign from the company plays no part in the most recent events taking place with Microsoft’s buy out attempts earlier this year. He too says that there isn’t anything causing him to leave, but rather it’s simply a choice he has decided to make. Jeremy said, “I won’t at all be surprised if some people think this is related to Microsoft or Carl Ichan and the uncertainty surrounding Yahoo’s future. The reality is that there’s nothing pushing me out the door at Yahoo.”

He closed his announcement with another round of gratitude towards his fellow colleagues who he has grown close to over the years and offered a very positive pep rally directed to the team of employees he will soon be leaving.

Do you think that Jeremy Zawodny knows something that others don’t know. What do you think is in the future for Yahoo? In the last sentence of Jeremy’s post, he announces that another long term employee was leaving as well after approximately ten years of service to Yahoo!.

It just so happens that Microsoft released a statement on the same day:

REDMOND, Wash. — June 12, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today issued the following statement:

“In the weeks since Microsoft withdrew its offer to acquire Yahoo!, the two companies have continued to discuss an alternative transaction that Microsoft believes would have delivered in excess of $33 per share to the Yahoo! shareholders. This partnership would ensure healthy competition in the marketplace, providing greater choice and innovation for advertisers, publishers and consumers.

“As stated on May 3^rd and reiterated on May 18^th Microsoft was not interested in rebidding for all of Yahoo!. Our alternative transaction remains available for discussion.”

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