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Yahoo CEO Wrongly Claimed To Have Degree In Computer Science

Posted by samzenpus on from the was-that-wrong? dept.

jmcbain writes "Scott Thompson, Yahoo!'s CEO who was hired on January 4 of this year, was found to have lied about his CS degree from Stone Hill College. Investigation from an activist shareholder revealed that his degree was actually in accounting, and apparently Thompson had been going with this lie since the time he served as president of PayPal's payments unit."

8 of 363 comments (clear)

  1. So? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Was he able to do the job well? Does it REALLY matter? If he got away with it that long I say good for him, if his employers aren't smart enough or care enough to verify they weren't really that concerned about his credentials.

    1. Re:So? by J+Story · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Was he able to do the job well? Does it REALLY matter? If he got away with it that long I say good for him, if his employers aren't smart enough or care enough to verify they weren't really that concerned about his credentials.

      Maybe this is an indication that degrees are over-rated. Or to be charitable, that it isn't particularly important exactly what you learn.

  2. Reminds me of Disney by Grayhand · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Investigation from an activist shareholder revealed that his degree was actually in accounting" Back when I worked for Disney we called Eisner that guy from accounting, it's actually a Berke Breathed quote we borrowed. It's amazing how many of these supposed CEOs are glorified accountants. Kind of explains the whole lack of imagination in big business.

  3. And he still has a job? by Guppy06 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If he were labor, HR would have sent security to escort him out of the building before this even got to press.

    That must be one hell of a golden parachute he's packing.

  4. Re:CEO's by houstonbofh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why do CEO's in this country think they are above everyone else, demanding excessive compensation and feel they can prevaricate with impunity when it suits their purposes?

    Because people continue to give them excessive compensation, and they keep getting away with the lies... In other words, they believe that because it is true.

  5. "wrongly claimed"??? by mark-t · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Oh fer crissake...

    The man lied. Nothing more to it than that

    "wrongly claimed"... give me a break.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  6. Fire Him by JStyle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I say fire him immediately. Having someone at the top who egregiously lied for so long sets the tone for the whole company. That's not how you want to do business, so that's not who you want as your leader.

  7. Fired for fraud by lanner · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Failure for Yahoo's board to terminate his employment with cause for fraud would be a clear indication of corruption at the highest levels in the organization.

    I would not be surprised if he were to stay. That's just how those people think. It's basically the good 'ol boy system in the modern day.