Sarin in the frame for top job at Yahoo

Arun Sarin, the former chief executive of Vodafone, has emerged as a candidate to run Yahoo. The US-based internet company is searching for a successor to Jerry Yang, the founder who returned to the chief executive suite at Yahoo only to botch takeover talks with Microsoft and preside over a collapse in the share price.

Yahoo board members are understood to be keen on securing a technology industry veteran with experience running a public company – qualifications that Mr Sarin amply meets. The native Californian stepped down in July after five years at the helm of the UK telecoms giant, where he won plaudits for its moves into emerging markets and a hard-headed approach to cutting costs or disposing of underperforming businesses.

Mr Sarin previously held numerous executive jobs at Silicon Valley technology companies and sat on the board of Cisco Systems. He did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.

Yahoo insiders said the search, which is being conducted by recruitment consultant Heidrick & Struggles, is still at an early stage, with a decision unlikely until the New Year. The company's next chief executive will have to weigh strategic options, such as combining its internet search business with Microsoft's, against a go-it-alone approach aimed at taking the fight for market share to Google.