Founder Jerry Yang Giving Up CEO Position at Yahoo!

So Jerry Yang is leaving his CEO role at Yahoo, staying as a board member and "Chief Yahoo."  Speculation leads to another Microsoft deal?  Steve Ballmer was pretty clear that Yang was an impediment in doing a deal.  The price may be right with Yahoo stock way down from earlier in the year.  The problem is the economic downturn adds a layer of difficulty in pulling enough cash together to make a deal.  Not that Microsoft is hurting for cash.  The credit markets may be just a bit iffy these days for some merger deals.  It might take a bit more effort to put a deal together.  Now we wait for Microsoft to indicate whether or not the interest is there.  Whatever happens, it will not be business as usual at Yahoo.  That's probably a good thing.

More in the Washington Post, Ars Technica, and CNNMoney.  [MG]