Names percolate in Microsoft’s opposition slate for Yahoo
A few names are percolating to the surface of Microsoft’s opposition slate as the software giant gears up for a potential proxy fight with Yahoo over its mega-billions buyout bid.
John Chapple, former Nextel Partners chief executive who now operates investment firm Hawkeye Investments in Washington; Edward Meyer, former CEO of advertising powerhouse Grey Global Group; and Jaynie Studenmund, former chief operating officer of Yahoo-acquired-Overture Services and former board member of Microsoft-acquired aQuantive, are some of the collection of names mentioned in a Wall Street Journal article Wednesday and a previous TechCrunch post from mid-March.
Ironically, Studenmund may be one busy gal on the proxy front. She not only is reportedly a Microsoft contender for their opposition slate, but is currently on the opposition slate for the JANA Group, which is running a slate against CNET Networks, publisher of News.com.
Studenmund, when contacted by News.com on Tuesday, declined to discuss her Microsoft gig and referred calls back to the software giant. She did confirm, however, she worked at First Interstate Bank of California, during the time it too faced a hostile bid from cross-town rival Wells Fargo to the north. Wells Fargo ultimately succeeded in acquiring First Interstate, in what later became a “friendly deal.”
Chapple and Meyer, meanwhile, did not return phone calls.
In addition to the names mentioned above, the Journal also listed Vanessa Wittman, former Adelphia Communications chief financial officer, as a contender for the Microsoft dissident board of 10 members and three alternatives and TechCrunch lists Tom Freston, former Viacom president.
Should Microsoft ultimately run an opposition slate against Yahoo’s board of directors, don’t expect a cadre of big brand name executives, a source familiar with those efforts previously told News.com back in March.
The source noted at the time that the software giant already had its slate set and it was comprised of “a pool of candidates spanning from seasoned executives from brand-name companies to folks with a financial background.”
Now, the only question remains is whether this group will get “the” call.
Source: CNET News.com - Business Tech
