Hire Wire

Interim Yahoo CEO Ross Levinsohn has wanted to run a company like Yahoo his entire career. Former colleagues and employees say he'll bring candor and a likable personality to the job.

Yahoo's interim CEO, Ross Levinsohn, forged strong alliances with executives at Madison Avenue agencies that represent the biggest ad spenders, setting him apart from his predecessors, who had no ad experience.

New York-based start-up Simulmedia plans to hire 20 new employees this year after raising $6 million in new venture-capital financing. Unlike many of its peers, the company is trying to improve advertising on television, not the Internet.

Board director Patti Hart headed the search that led to the hiring of embattled Chief Executive Scott Thompson, who's accused of misstating his academic record.

A company is only as strong as its weakest worker, so taking on the wrong employee can hurt in more ways than one. Tech companies use a variety of methods--some of which may be extreme--to ensure they the hire best workers.

Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson is facing a call for his ouster over the accuracy of his academic credentials. But he's not the first nor the last.

Samsung Electronics, which has long shunned outside help, is aggressively hiring foreigner workers--especially in India--to build up its software prowess and keep pace with the rapid rise of rival Apple.

The addition of CEO Stephen J. Luczo comes as Microsoft expands its footprint into a variety of sectors.

Chesapeake's board and Chief Executive Aubrey McClendon agreed to separate the roles of CEO and chairman. Also the company announced the early termination of a program that gave McClendon stakes in thousands of oil and gas wells. An independent chairman will be named to succeed McClendon, who will remain CEO.

Finance chief Victoria Harker plans to leave the company no later than Aug. 10 after being with the power-providing company for more than six years.