Yahoo's Superhero CMO Dunaway Resigns

Once called a “classically trained marketer,” Yahoo CMO Cammie Dunaway has resigned after over four years with the company. Yahoo confirmed the departure today, stating the exec will leave November 2 to embark on a new career opportunity.

Yahoo’s VP of Global Brand Marketing Allen Olivo will take her place temporarily as the firm considers a replacement. Olivo “will serve as the acting leader” and report to Yahoo President Sue Decker, a company spokesperson told ClickZ News.

According to reports, Dunaway noted in a departure message to colleagues she will not share details about her new position until the middle of next week. Evidently, she hinted the new gig is just right for someone who appreciates promoting large consumer brands.

Dunaway, who started with Yahoo in 2003, made a name for herself in the interactive advertising community through her work at Frito-Lay. In 2002, the snack food brand exec managed to reallocate Super Bowl TV ad dollars for Doritos to the Web, a risky proposition at the time.

“Since joining Yahoo in 2003, Cammie has built an award winning direct marketing team; improved the company’s customer insights; and found creative ways to improve our brand,” said a Yahoo spokesperson in a statement e-mailed to ClickZ News. “Cammie has strengthened the marketing function and built a strong bench of creative talent. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and thank her for her leadership, dedication and all that she has contributed to Yahoo,” continued the statement.

Yahoo can’t seem to catch a break. In the midst of another impressive quarterly earnings report from its nemesis Google, Yahoo this week reported its own relatively mediocre Q3 numbers. Yahoo stated total revenue growth of 12 percent in the third quarter of 2007 over the same period last year, compared to Google’s 57 percent growth.

Though Yahoo appears to be taking a long-term approach to overcoming its obstacles, observers peering over the purple wall can’t help but wonder what this latest departure, another in a steady stream of executive resignations, means for the company.