Jerry Yang
Jerry Yang is a YahooYahooYahoo is an internet brand founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo in 1994, with email, search, news, finance, sports, and advertising businesses. It developed from a web directory into a portal, underwent major acquisitions and security incidents, and sold its operating business in 2017, when the original listed company became Altaba. Apollo-managed funds acquired the brand’s operating business in 2021. Yahoo launched the AI answer service Scout in 2026.Open the full entry co-founder and former CEO and the founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures. He helped develop Yahoo’s relationships with Yahoo JapanYahoo JapanYahoo Japan refers to the Yahoo! JAPAN portal and its historical operating companies. The Japanese search and information brand became part of LY Corporation’s operations in the 2023 reorganization.Open the full entry and Alibaba and served as chair of Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityStanford University is a research university in California founded by Leland and Jane Stanford in 1885 and opened in 1891.Open the full entry’s Board of Trustees.
Contents11 sections
Key facts
1978Moves to the United States
Born in Taipei, Yang moved to the United States in 1978.[1]
1990Earns Stanford degrees
He earned Stanford bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering in 1990.[1]
1994–1995Co-founds Yahoo
Yang and David FiloDavid FiloDavid Filo is a Yahoo co-founder and technologist who built its web directory with Jerry Yang.Open the full entry created the Yahoo navigation guide in April 1994 and founded the company in 1995. Yang became a director and executive in March 1995, working on strategy, technology, international partnerships, and recruitment.[2]
2005–2012Asian business and board roles
Yang helped build Yahoo’s relationships with Yahoo Japan and Alibaba. AlibabaAlibabaAlibaba is a technology group focused on commerce, cloud computing, and AI. Founded in 1999 by 18 people led by Jack Ma, it received a major investment from Yahoo in 2005.Open the full entry’s formal biography records board service from October 2005 to January 2012 and again from September 2014.[3]
June 18, 2007Becomes Yahoo CEO
He succeeded Terry SemelTerry SemelTerry Semel is a business executive who served as Yahoo CEO and Warner Bros. co-CEO.Open the full entry as Yahoo CEO. Semel became non-executive chairman, and Susan Decker became president on the same day.[2]
January 17, 2012Leaves Yahoo
Yang resigned from Yahoo’s board and all other company positions, as well as the boards of Yahoo Japan and Alibaba. His Yahoo CEO tenure had lasted from June 2007 to January 2009.[4]
2012Establishes AME Cloud Ventures
He founded AME Cloud Ventures to invest in early- and later-stage technology businesses building infrastructure and value chains around data.[1]
2021–2025Chairs Stanford’s Board of Trustees
Yang chaired Stanford’s Board of Trustees from 2021. The university announced that Lily Sarafan would succeed him on July 1, 2025, while he remained a trustee.[5]
Philanthropy and institutional ties: Education, conservation, and art
Yang and his wife, Akiko Yamazaki, support higher education, conservation, and the arts.[6]
Affiliations, websites, and public accounts: Investment firm
AME Cloud Ventures: Official website: https://www.amecloudventures.com/ (opens in a new window)[7]
Sources
- Jerry Yang elected chair of Stanford University Board of Trustees (opens in a new window)
- Yahoo! Inc. — Form 8-K, June 18, 2007 (opens in a new window)
- Alibaba Group Holding Limited — 2025 Interim Report (opens in a new window)
- Yahoo! Inc. — Definitive Additional Materials (opens in a new window)
- Lily Sarafan elected chair of Stanford University Board of Trustees (opens in a new window)
- Jerry Yang, BS, MS (opens in a new window)
- AME Cloud Ventures (opens in a new window)