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The strangest resignation letter ever

Posted Jun 18 2008, 01:42 PM by Kim Peterson
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The employee exodus continues at Yahoo, with Stewart Butterfield and wife Caterina Fake the latest to head for the exits. Butterfield and Fake founded the Flickr photo service, which Yahoo bought three years ago for $35 million.

What sets Butterfield apart from the other departures is his bizarre resignation letter, in which he describes Yahoo as a one-time tin company that expanded into other metals, then real estate, brewing and salty snacks.

"I have been cast adrift," the letter states. "I tried to roll with the times, but nary a sheet of tin has rolled [off] our own production lines in 30 years!" (Valleywag reproduces the entire letter here.)

Yahoo shares were down 2% to $22.83 at 11 a.m. PST.

 

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Comments

 

They're doing everything they can to fall on their faces. I'd have quit after they gave me the 35mil, there'd be no reason to stick around. Haha.

Adam B (Posted 06.18.08 2:13 PM) Report Abuse

And they gave this guy $35MM?!

Jason S (Posted 06.18.08 3:18 PM) Report Abuse

Looks to me like he was trying to be humorous. I vote it, Most Creative Resignation Letter of 2008.

Give that man a ribbon.

www.melissabishop.com (Posted 06.19.08 9:34 AM) Report Abuse

Go on take the money and run

(Steve Miller)

Dickie (Posted 06.20.08 4:37 PM) Report Abuse

The guy was obviously writing a humorous metaphor about the fact that Yahoo! has its hand in nearly every online service market...and that because of that, Flickr never gets the attention it deserves, or that it would have if it was still an independent company owned by Butterfield.

Now he's quit and he can go start a new photo site, even better than Flickr, with his own control and his own vision, and then sell that one to Yahoo! for $50 million! :)

Owen (Posted 06.20.08 6:57 PM) Report Abuse

Great letter.  Obviously he was feeling out of place among a younger generation.  Very creative guy.  He'll be back, I'm sure.

those who wait (Posted 07.29.08 8:30 PM) Report Abuse

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