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Yahoo Chief Exec Scott Thompson To Step Down Over CV Controversy

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 13/05/2012 18:09 Updated: 14/05/2012 09:52

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Scott Thompson
Yahoo boss Scott Thompson is to step down

Yahoo chief executive Scott Thompson is to step down after it was revealed he had lied on his CV.

The controversy came to light more than a week ago by hedge fund Third Point which owns a 6% stake in Yahoo. Thompson had claimed he held degrees in accounting and computer science from Stonehill College in Boston. But the private school did not offer the latter degree until four years after the Yahoo CEO had graduated.

The embarrassing revelation has now led to Thompson announcing he will be standing down from his position, although according to All Things D, he will use "personal reasons" as an excuse for his resignation.

In an email, Thompson told staff he deeply regretted how the issue had affected the company and he took "full responsibility" for the effects but didn't actually apologise for fabricating the degree in the first place.

Yahoo announced shortly after news of the scandal broke it would be forming a special committee to conduct a thorough review into Thompson's academic credentials and said it "appreciated the urge of the situation".

Industry experts are now speculating Thompson will be replaced by Ross Levinsohn, who is currently head of global media for Yahoo.

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Yahoo chief executive Scott Thompson is to step down after it was revealed he had lied on his CV. The controversy came to light more than a week ago by hedge fund Third Point which owns a 6% stake ...
Yahoo chief executive Scott Thompson is to step down after it was revealed he had lied on his CV. The controversy came to light more than a week ago by hedge fund Third Point which owns a 6% stake ...
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Madforit
42 Fans
04:11 AM on 05/14/2012
Sad to say but it isn't implausible that most people's CVs contain some enhancement of their qualifications or tweaking their positions within the Companies they worked for. This is certainly more so in the current economic climate than ever before.

Third Point 'outing' Scott Thompson's non- existent qualification will no doubt, have an alternative agenda - They would get quite a shock if they conducted this investigation within their own Company or other Companies they have shares in of similar incidences..

The CV will get you the interview. With a large number of applications received, the interviewee rarely spends a great deal of time in going through the CV's.

I don't condone Scott Thompson lying but the Bankers and the MPs have done far worse and caused a lot more misery. He was wrong for stating that he had a certain qualification when he didn't. Nevertheless, he will have got his position on the total package being offered to Yahoo. He should be judged by the way he conducted himself upon getting his job and on merit fort he work he has done since.

There are people out there who don't have academic qualifications but have the entrepreneurial skills which will never get recognised because they can't get an interview for a job without their 'relevant' qualifications - you only need to look at what the likes of Richard Branson has achieved.

All Scott Thompson's career and achievements should not be marred by what he wrote on his CV years
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monkey brand
0 Fans
11:51 PM on 05/13/2012
when I worked for Citroen I had 2 CVs.
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sendiansmail
15 Fans
03:47 AM on 05/14/2012
lol
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stix158
18 Fans
11:21 PM on 05/13/2012
As long as he can do the job who cares? Most people with genuine university Quals, are not worth employing!
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stones159
0 Fans
02:04 AM on 05/14/2012
Guess you're into sweeping generalisations then stix158? Pretty clear you didn't qualify for a place at university then!
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mikkey69
7 Fans
08:09 AM on 05/14/2012
Thats the most correct and true staement I have heard for ages !! Either you can do the job or not !! Exam results,CV claims count for nout !! All people ask is to be given a chance !! So called degrees etc dosent mean the person is any good at anything except remembering useless facts from a schoolbook !! The REAL world is completely differrent !!
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Call Me Dave57
54 Fans
10:34 PM on 05/13/2012
"storm", "tea-cup" - little to report Huff?
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pduck321
30 Fans
10:23 PM on 05/13/2012
Yaaaahooooooo ... telling porkies on your CV .. naughty boy ...
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
10:17 PM on 05/13/2012
His real qualifications are better suited to the job he was doing that the ones' he lied about!
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nwiggins
7 Fans
10:53 PM on 05/13/2012
spot on. I think that lying was a naughty thing to do, but he has been doing the job well hasn't he? A CV is to help you get the job - doing the job right helps you keep it (if you don't work for an insecure manager that is!).
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Mickey Mouse 1
There are no lies or deceit on a chess board.
180 Fans
11:02 PM on 05/13/2012
I guess most people embellish their CV's to make themselves appear better suited for the job?
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Mad Mick
84 Fans
09:53 PM on 05/13/2012
Oh dear! I had better rewrite my CV too.

Few of us are free from blemishes of the truth & errors of fact. Nowitstanding the buoyancy of his spirit & the vivacity of his conversation, he was prepared to plead guilty.

Good luck to the fellow!
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