Yahoo close to naming a new CEO

Inside sources are telling (subscription required) The Wall Street Journal that Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) could make a decision on a new CEO as soon as next week. Former Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) CEO Carol Bartz is mentioned as a candidate. No additional names are publicly available right now, although the company is believed to be leaning toward bringing in someone from outside the company.

Ms. Bartz still serves as chairman of Autodesk, where she was CEO from 1992 to 2006. Here's what makes her an interesting possible choice: since the beginning of 2005, shares of Autdesk have lost about one-third of their value. Given the tremendous amount of trouble that Yahoo has had in providing shareholders with returns over the past few years, you'd think they'd want to bring in someone fresh off of a winning streak of shareholder value.

At 60 years old, Ms. Bartz also seems like a strange choice for leading the company into the new era of the internet where more nimble rivals like Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) are taking market-share.

Still, it's possible that Yahoo insiders see her as a possible short-term solution to get the company back on stronger footing, and perhaps prepare it for a sale.

I think most Yahoo shareholders are probably hoping for something more exciting.