1. Reputation Management
Reputation Rhino LLC 711 3rd
Avenue, 12th Floor New York,
NY 10017 p: 888.975.3331 e:
info@reputationrhino.com
Welcome to Yahoo Faces Another Reputation Management Crisis
The latest corporate reputation management crisis to hit the news this week is former Yahoo
CEO Scott Thompson allegedly falsifiying his resume. Thompson, who’s been Yahoo’s latest in a
revolving door of CEOs (four in the last five years), held the position for a mere four months.
The scandal came to light by disenchanted shareholder Daniel Loeb, who is interested in helping
shape Yahoo’s turnaround. The inaccurate information in Thompson’s resume has apparently
been circulating for years and focuses on a degree he claims to have earned from Stonehill
College.
2. Reputation Management
Reputation Rhino LLC 711 3rd
Avenue, 12th Floor New York,
NY 10017 p: 888.975.3331 e:
info@reputationrhino.com
Welcome to Yahoo Faces Another Reputation Management Crisis
Thompson did attend the school, earning a degree in accounting only, not a computer science
degree, as he has claimed in the past. The inaccuracy was included in Thompson’s Yahoo bio, his
previous bio as PayPal’s CEO, and in the latest Yahoo Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Clearly, reputation management should be a priority for all parties involved: Thompson as an
accomplished CEO, and Yahoo, a company struggling in the shadow of Google and Facebook has
suffered another loss of confidence following the abrupt resignation. Thompson already took a
few missteps in the scandal, when he initially claimed it was an unfortunate oversight. He
changed his tune as the news snowballed, blaming headhunting company Heidrick & Struggles,
which denies any involvement in the resume inaccuracy.
Under Thompson’s leadership, Yahoo faced scrutiny even before the resume inaccuracy of its
CEO. Thompson recently laid off 14 percent of Yahoo’s workforce, had been planning to close or
sell 50 of Yahoo’s services, and is leading a lawsuit against Facebook for stealing some of Yahoo’s
technology.
3. Reputation Management
Reputation Rhino LLC 711 3rd
Avenue, 12th Floor New York,
NY 10017 p: 888.975.3331 e:
info@reputationrhino.com
Welcome to Yahoo Faces Another Reputation Management Crisis
Scott Thompson’s decision to step down as CEO effective immediately is a step in the right
direction for Yahoo shareholders, however unless the Board can convince shareholders that they
have an operational strategy that can turn the beleaguered tech giant around, the fallout will
continue for the foreseeable future.
Thank You