Yahoo! GC, corporate secretary calls it quits

Ron Bell, deputy general counsel, steps in.

Tweet

Michael Callahan, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of the California-based search engine giant announced that he will be stepping down from his position, effective July 9.

Ron Bell, the company’s current deputy general counsel for products and the Americas region, will serve as interim general counsel. Bell joined Yahoo! in 1999 and will now report to the company’s CEO Ross Levinsohn.

After 12 years at Yahoo! Callahan said in his resignation letter that he is moving on to seek ‘new opportunities.’ He joined the firm from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom in 1999.  He was promoted to general counsel in 2003 and became executive vice-president in 2007.

So far this has been a tough year for Yahoo! The company has been wrapped up in allegations of legal and ethical violations and with the general counsel’s impromptu exit, all eyes are back on the company.

But the New York Times reports that Callahan’s sudden departure should not impede the board’s probe into former CEO Scott Thompson’s academic credentials.  As for Facebook, both companies are working toward a settlement over technology patents.