Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer Hopes To Stay Even If Company Splits

Marissa Mayer, CEO of beleaguered web pioneer Yahoo Inc. said she was hopeful of keeping her job even if the company changed hands. She made the comments about her job prospects Thursday during an interview with Charlie Rose on PBS.

Mayer, who is currently facing a potential proxy fight, pledged to do what was best for Yahoo shareholders as the company looks at alternatives to separate its core business from a stake in Chinese e-commerce behemoth Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

“I certainly hope the strategic alternative has a place for me,” she said. “But that said, we’ll obviously honor our commitments to our shareholders.”

Mayer also added two new board members Thursday even as activist shareholder Starboard Value LP — which has been critical of her efforts to restore growth at Yahoo — put pressure on the company to recast the board with new directors last month, according to Bloomberg. Starboard is reportedly seeking at least four seats on the board in order to gain control of Yahoo's seven-member board.

Meanwhile, Yahoo is preparing to auction off its core internet business, and telecommunications company Verizon Communications Inc. and publisher Time Inc. are among the companies expected to bid. The company hopes to have a short list of bidders by April, according to Reuters.

Mayer also expressed confidence in a new turnaround plan for the company during the interview. “A lot of tech turnaround adds we do take five, six, seven years,” she said.

“The primary issue is Yahoo, our technology, the employees, the services, the end-users — how do we get that to the best possible place for Yahoo and find it the best possible future,” she said. “I’m secondary to that.”