Terry Semel
Terry Semel is a business executive who served as Yahoo CEO and Warner Bros. co-CEO.
Contents8 sections
Key facts
Education: Long Island University
Semel earned a BS from Long Island University and received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Emerson College.[1]
Before 2001Film and media management
He led Warner Bros. with Robert Daly, serving as chairman and co-CEO.[1]
May 1, 2001Succeeds Tim Koogle at Yahoo
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 announced Semel’s appointment as chairman and CEO from May 1, with Tim KoogleTim KoogleTim Koogle was Yahoo’s first CEO and has a background in engineering, business leadership, and investing.Open the full entry becoming vice chairman.[2]
2004Supports neuroscience at UCLA
Following a gift from Jane and Terry Semel, UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute became the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.[3]
2005Receives the UCLA Medal
The couple received the UCLA Medal in 2005 and continued supporting campus-health initiatives and research.[4]
June 18, 2007Leaves the CEO role
Jerry YangJerry YangJerry Yang is a Yahoo co-founder and former CEO and the founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures. He helped develop Yahoo’s relationships with Yahoo Japan and Alibaba and served as chair of Stanford University’s Board of Trustees.Open the full entry became Yahoo CEO, while Semel moved to non-executive chairman.[5]
Institutional ties: Media and culture
The Berggruen Institute biography records his work with Windsor Media, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Paley Center for Media.[1]
Sources
- Terry S. Semel (opens in a new window)
- Yahoo! to Appoint Terry S. Semel Chairman and CEO (opens in a new window)
- Semel Institute: 50 Years of Progress (opens in a new window)
- Gift from Jane and Terry Semel will create center dedicated to UCLA’s Healthy Campus Initiative (opens in a new window)
- Yahoo! Inc. — Form 8-K, June 18, 2007 (opens in a new window)