Yahoo! Inc. has appointed Carol Bartz as its new Chief Executive Officer on Tuesday with reactions from analysts who see the move as being safe but showing concern about her experience in key areas Yahoo is involved in.

Bratz, 60 was CEO at Autodesk Inc., a 2D and 3D design software company she led for 14 years until 2006. She has held the title of chair since then. She is also a director at Intel Corporation and Cisco Systems. During her tenure at Autodesk, the company increased its revenue to $1.5 billion from $285 million, according to the company.

Analysts complimented for her organizational and management skills, customer orientation and comprehension of the challenges in the industry. Silicon valley observers noted she is the kind of strong leader that Yahoo! needs, according to the DowJones.

But on the other hand, some analysts on Wall Street worried that she apparently lacks professional experience in Internet companies and online advertising, as well as media industry experience, the Financial Times noted.

Bartz said in a conference call Tuesday that she plans to turn the company around. When Bartz takes the lead at Yahoo she will immediately face several key decisions for the company including a stock price that has ranged between $8.94 and $30.25 over the past year amid a global economic recession.

Bratz background

Bartz holds an honors degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin. She was granted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from William Woods University, according to her profile in Autodesk's website.

She has been listed among the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business in 2005 on Fortune Magazine, and the 50 Women to Watch list from the Wall Street Journal in the same year. She has also been among the World's 30 Most Respected CEOs by Barron's in 2005 and Forbes' World's 100 most Powerful Women in 2004 aand 2005.

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.

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