I think the metric you're using for success is different than what Yahoo's shareholders are using. The CEO of a publicly traded company is responsible for carr

I think the metric you're using for success is different than what Yahoo's shareholders are using. The CEO of a publicly traded company is responsible for carrying out the goals set by the board, which represent the whims of the owners of the company. Typically that means balancing many factors. If the owners of the company care about features and competing, they will set goals accordingly. If the owners feel like maximizing profit for an expedient exit, they will set goals aligned with that.