Arun Sarin, the former head of Vodafone (pictured left) has decided not to pursue the possibility of becoming the next chief executive of Yahoo.
The Silicon Valley-based internet company had expressed a keen interest in Mr Sarin succeeding Jerry Yang, according to people close to the former chief executive of the UK-based mobile phone operator.
However, he is expected to tell Yahoo that he does not want the job, according to these people. Yahoo said the company did not comment on rumours or speculation.
Mr Sarin is considering alternative roles at other US public companies, plus at least one position at a private equity firm, people close to him said.
It is understood that one reason for his rejecting Yahoo was a perceived risk that the company could be dismembered.
Yahoo has been under pressure from shareholders to do a deal with Microsoft, including selling off its search business. The company, which has been closing down services considered to be non-core, could also sell its assets in Asia.
In November, it announced the sale of its Kelkoo price-comparison service in Europe.
Vodafone is the world’s largest mobile operator by revenue. During a five-year tenure as chief executive that ended in July, Mr Sarin supervised several acquisitions, including the $11bn purchase last year of a controlling stake in Hutchison Essar, then India’s fourth largest mobile operator.
A person close to Yahoo said on Monday that the company was looking at several candidates and the process was still in its early stages.
“People who are considering the position have their eyes wide open to what the opportunity is,” said this person.
“For the right kind of candidate, it’s an incredible challenge and an incredible opportunity. Yahoo is a company with tremendous assets and has some big decisions to make. The right kind of person is going to be interested and not concerned [by the possibility of a break-up].”
Yahoo has hired executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles to look for and vet candidates inside and outside the company. A final decision on who will replace Yahoo co-founder Mr Yang (pictured right) is not expected until early next year.
Mr Sarin has strong connections in California, where he has family and friends. From 2000 to 2001, he was chief executive of Infospace, an internet content company similar to Yahoo. He was also a board member of Cisco Systems at the same time as Mr Yang.
There has been speculation about several internet executives for the job. The strongest internal candidate is seen as Sue Decker, the company’s president, while Jonathan Miller, former chief executive of AOL, had previously been considered for a position on Yahoo’s board.
