Key man heads for Yahoo exit

Senior Yahoo executive Jeff Weiner has joined an exodus from the company that began with Microsoft's unwelcome bid for the internet firm.

Weiner has been in key roles at Yahoo for the past seven years, most recently as executive vice president of its network division.

He has left to join Accel Partners and Greylock Partners, two venturecapital firms specialising in Silicon Valley start-ups.

Weiner will hold the title of "executive in residence" at both firms, dividing his time equally between them.

Three other Yahoo executives are reportedly on the move. Chief data officer Usama Fayyad is said to be leaving, although Yahoo would not comment. Engineer Jeremy Zawodny said last week that he planned to leave after more than eight years at the company.

They follow Bradley Horowitz, head of Yahoo's internal start-up unit, who left for Google in February.

Ian Rogers, a vice president in the video and media applications business, joined start-up Topspin Media in April.

Weiner, described by analysts as "an important player", was among Yahoo's top 15 executives.