Yahoo's Bartz 'uninspiring'

Her arrival could mark the end of resistance to acquisition however.

"We view Ms. Bartz's appointment as clearing of the last hurdle before Microsoft could submit a possible search deal proposal to Yahoo," according to analyst Sandeep Aggarwal of Colins Stewart.

Bartz previously held positions at Sun Microsystems and at Digital Equipment Corporation and 3M Corporation. She was also appointed to President Bush's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.