Yahoo search exec departs, perhaps to Microsoft
Microsoft may no longer be looking to buy Yahoo outright, but I'm guessing it is not averse to picking up some of its talent.
Valleywag reported on Wednesday that Sean Suchter, a top search executive at Yahoo, is leaving the company and speculated that he is headed to Microsoft. Kara Swisher, at All Things Digital, says she's hearing the same thing.
The move comes the same week as Yahoo announced that Jerry Yang will step down as soon as the company finds his replacement.
Suchter's colleagues didn't try to sugarcoat the news of his departure, according to an e-mail posted by Valleywag.
"Unfortunately, I have to give some bad news to you," Tuoc Luong wrote in a note to folks on the Yahoo search team. "Sean Suchter has resigned. Sean's last day will be December 19th. Some of you will find this news shocking given that Sean has been a Gibraltar rock at Yahoo and in particular for the Search team. I understand this."
Then again, if Steve Ballmer gets his way, maybe Microsoft will end up as Yahoo's search partner and Suchter will be reunited with his colleagues.
No official comment yet from either Microsoft or Yahoo.
Update 11:45 a.m. PST: Yahoo confirms he's leaving.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
With the top search executive moving it surely won't be long before employees working under him make the move as well.
Looks like Yahoo is choking on their own "Poison Pill", the one instituted by Jerry Yang when MS tendered a premium offer to buy Yahoo.
Just think about all the stockholders as they hear this news. Yeah, your board and CEO really nailed you to the wall on this one. Your stock could have been bought for $33/share when MS upped it's offer but Yang and board turned it down saying that the company is worth far more.
Today as the market opens with Yahoo stock at a record low of $9.14/share it will only go down as the news of their Top Seach Executive is resigning and possibly signalling an exodus of Search programmers.
I will be surprised if Yahoo closes over $7/share at the end of trading today.
Good work Jerry.